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Dutch say Apple finance apps are anti-competitive

by on08 October 2021


Ordered it to make changes

The Dutch, who once embarrassed the British by sailing its Navy into London, has bravely declared that Apple’s in-app payment system is anti-competitive.

The Dutch antitrust authority has found that Apple’s rules requiring software developers to use its in-app payment system are anti-competitive and ordered it to make changes.

Apple’s app-store payment policies, particularly its requirement that app developers exclusively use its payment system where commissions range between 15 percent and 30 percent, have long drawn complaints from developers.

The Dutch investigation into whether Apple’s practices amounted to an abuse of a dominant market position was launched in 2019 but later reduced in scope to focus primarily on dating market apps.

They included a complaint from Tinder, which said Apple’s rules were hindering it from direct communications with its customers about payments.

The Netherlands’ Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) last month informed the US technology giant of its decision, making it the first anti-trust regulator to find the company has abused market power in the app store. However, Apple is facing challenges in multiple countries.

The people said that ACM has not levied a fine against Apple yet but demanded changes to the in-app payment system.

An ACM spokesperson declined to comment, saying that the matter is currently under legal review. However, the regulator has previously said it expects to publish its decision this year.

As proof that it has nothing to hide, Apple has asked the Rotterdam District Court for an injunction to block the publication of the ruling during its appeal.

Last modified on 08 October 2021
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