Sam Oliver
Federal lobbying disclosures filed this week revealed the extent to which Apple has beefed up lobbying operations in recent years, as the $1.2 million the company spent in the fourth quarter of last year pushed its full-year total over $4 million for the first time ever.
That figure represents an 18 percent year-over-year increase from the $3.4 million Apple spent in 2013, itself a record expenditure. Apple did not cross the $1 million threshold until 2006, and continues to spend relatively little on lobbying compared to its position as the largest company in the world by market capitalization.
Second-place Exxon Mobil, for instance, spent more than $12.5 million over the same period.
As noted previously, Apple focuses its lobbying efforts primarily on issues directly related to its product lineup. Consumer health data, safe driving, e-books and data privacy are among the areas that received attention from either Apple's in-house lobbying team or its 23 contract lobbyists.
The company's leadership has also taken a more active role, frequently traveling to Washington to meet with key decision makers. Most recently, company chief Tim Cook met with Utah Sen. Orinn Hatch in December.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
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11 Comments
What a ridiculous amount of money to spend! I would prefer the $4.1 million was spent on ensuring their MacBooks didn't become so slow over time - thankfully www.detoxmacbook.com fixed mine or I would be their worst nightmare after all the money I spent... let alone their wasteful spending!
Apple's got the cash. In times where people and ideas mean squat and money is the oil that levels the mountain road, then spend, spend, spend, Apple. One tiny fruit fly in your soup is easily brushed aside.
This is one area in which I hope Apple never has to pour money into. Lobbying seems to be a black hole and is used to fight fires.
While it may seem like a huge amount it is relatively peanuts compared to the under the table "perks" and kickbacks given by other companies. Being above the table about it and vocal Apple is saying we have a message and we believe in it enough top pay for it to be heard.
People who think Apple can get away with spending zero on lobbying, or even that it would be a sane or responsible thing to do, live on another planet. Either way, $1.2 million is fucking peanuts, and probably the minimum that Apple feels it can get away with spending. Companies that only make a fraction of the $$ Apple makes are spending far, far more- so I'm not worried about this figure.