Mike Peterson
Dutch antitrust regulators have ruled that Apple's App Store broke competition laws in the country, and have demanded changes to its in-app payment policy early in 2022.
Authorities in the country have been investigating Apple's App Store since 2019 on allegations that the company abuses its dominance in the marketplace. In a decision unsealed on Friday, but made in October, Dutch regulators ruled that Apple's requirement that developers use its in-app payment system was anti-competitive.
In a report published on Friday about the ruling, Reuters says that Apple must make changes before Jan. 15. Should it fail to do so, it faces a fine of up to 50 million euros.
The Netherlands' Authority for Consumers and Markets told Apple of its decision in September 2021. At the time, Apple did not comment on the ruling but said the decision was under "legal review."
Apple is facing similar antitrust pressure in South Korea, where regulators also ruled that Apple's in-app payment requirements were anti-competitive. The company has pushed back against the new regulations in South Korea, claiming that it is already in compliance.
Additionally, Apple is also facing antitrust pressure in its home country. The U.S. Department of Justice is in the midst of a yearlong probe into Apple's business practices, and reports indicate that the investigation could result in a lawsuit.
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
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26 Comments
I know it’s not a logical action, but if I were I’d say, “Sorry, we will not comply. Instead we will be closing our App Store and no longer sell iPhones in your country.”
Add to this, with South Korea trying the same shit, Apple should tell them, “We will also send all our product production to other countries.”
Apple invented their iPhone, and their ecosystem. No one has to use it, no developer has to program for it. If you want to play in their garden, you pay for that privilege.
Still trying to understand how Apple’s payment system is anti-competitive. Costco only allows Visa, no other credit cards allowed. Isn’t that anti-competitive? Apple needs to file suit against all these countries, including the US, for baseless suits along with discriminatory actions, picking and choosing who to sue.
Before Jan 15. What a joke. Not going to happen: Apple, pay the fine and keep your ecosystem. Nobody has the right to tell you how to run your shop.