On February 14, 2022, the competition authority of the Netherlands, the ACM, decided to impose a fine of 5 million euros on Apple again. After a verdict handed down during the holiday season, the apple brand had one month to put itself in order, otherwise it would be fined 5 million euros per week. After a first sanction at the end of January, it is now the fourth.
Following a complaint from Match Group, a giant of dating applications holding Tinder, Meetic, OkCupid… the ACM had imposed on Apple to open up its payment system so that developers could integrate other alternatives. He was also enjoined to allow applications to redirect their users to their payment platform, allowing them to avoid the much criticized 15% to 30% commission.
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Apple did not convince
On February 8, Apple complied, obviously dragging its feet a little too much. The company run by Tim Cook did the bare minimum. In particular, it accepted the opening of payment options, as well as a link to the payment page of dating sites. On the other hand, it requires 27% of the amount of these regulations. On the other hand, to finally achieve all this, the developers will have to create another application. For example, for Tinder, there could be a Tinder 2 in the Netherlands, intended to offer a payment method.
These proposals were not to the liking of the ACM. They ” are unreasonable and create an unnecessary barrier can we read in a communicated. ” Dating app providers who switch to another payment system are forced to incur additional costs. Consumers currently using the app will need to upgrade to the new app before they can use the alternative payment method “.
However, a gray area – but a sizeable one – remains. The new 27% commission has not been addressed or commented upon by the Dutch competition authority. She just emits reservations on a number of other elements of the modified conditions by Apple. Match Group and others must certainly hope that it waits for the Cupertino company to completely review its copy. Otherwise, their legal battle will have the effect of a sword in the water.
In the United States, as in Europe, Apple is in a fierce struggle to preserve its golden hen that is the App Store. His commissions would have brought him, in 2021 alone, between 11 and 26 billion dollars.