Happy Apple Eve! ACM, The Authority for Consumers and Markets, the competition authority of the Netherlands, has imposed on December 24 on the apple brand open its in-app payment system for dating services, following a Match Group complaint.
The fine could reach 50 million euros
ACM ordered Apple to allow dating app developers to provide an in-app payment system different from its own. It also requires the Apple brand to allow dating app owners to direct their users to an out-of-service payment system to escape the 15% to 30% commission on all purchases.
The Internet Association, the lobby of GAFAM in Washington, will no longer exist in 2022
Apple has until January 15 to comply with the ACM ruling in the Netherlands. After this period and if Cupertino does not comply, the company will have to pay a fine of 5 million euros per week. The penalty may reach 50 million euros.
Martijn Snoep, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ACM, believes that “ Apple has special responsibilities due to its dominant position. This is why Apple must also take the interests of application providers seriously and set reasonable terms. “.
This decision is limited to dating apps only. Reuters explains this condition by a complaint filed with the ACM by Match Group, owner of Tinder, OkCupid and Match.com. A larger investigation was initially launched in 2019.
According to the ACM, dating apps are particularly dependent on the Apple App Store. To function, they need to attract as many people as possible to Android or iOS. While Google’s operating system offers the ability to download third-party app stores, Apple doesn’t. It is this situation which creates a situation of dominant position according to the ACM.
Apple is appealing
Apple has already stated that it is ” disagree with the order issued by the ACM “. Cupertino has decided to appeal this decision. Cupertino believes that ” Apple does not have a dominant position in the software distribution market in the Netherlands, has invested huge resources to help dating app developers reach customers and thrive on the App Store “.
The ACM’s decision will remind others of both the in-app payment system from Apple, but also from Google, is debated. In the United States, legal proceedings opposing Epic Games to Apple are underway, and a law is also being studied to put an end to this situation. In August, South Korea allowed developers to use payment systems other than Play Store or the App Store.
In September, the competition authority in Japan imposed on Apple to open the possibility for reading applications, Netflix, Spotify, Kindle, media, to direct their customers to a payment system external to the application. Apple has decided to extend this decision to the rest of the world in 2022.
Google, but especially Apple, are being forced by regulatory authorities around the world to gradually open up its system. Cupertino is fighting against decisions that could deprive the company of several hundred million dollars, but is gradually losing ground.