Dutch regulators rule Apple must make App Store changes before Jan. 15

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.

26 Comments

AniMill 4 Years · 193 comments

About 2 years ago

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.

GeorgeBMac 8 Years · 11421 comments

Meanwhile, while western societies attack their capitalist corporations with little or no clear benefit to anybody, China exploits capitalism and eats western corporations for breakfast.

When you do the right things, right things tend to happen

When you do wrong things, wrong things tend to happen.

...It's an old eastern truism called "Kharma". We should have learned from them instead of lecturing them.

rob53 13 Years · 3313 comments

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.

pwrmac 3 Years · 60 comments

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.

DnykjpRfC6fnBs 5 Years · 69 comments

AniMill said:

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.

Abuses it dominance? All I ever see is AAPL in 3rd or 4th place in Mac computer sales. How they are number 1 in smart phone sales in the USA only globally Android and Samsung it is. Why can’t I use Apple Pay at
Amazon who offers Amazon pay only, how is that fair to Apple Google or Samsung.
I am with you on this: they should close up shop, block App Store sales and let those countries that try this crap deal with the upset customers their policies have created.