New sanction for Apple, now accused of complicating the task for developers who would like to use a third-party payment system.
And four. After a final fine relating to Apple’s delay in complying with the thorny subject of alternative payments, the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has just imposed a new penalty on Apple, amounting to five million euros, and for a similar reason. As a reminder, this new financial penalty incorporates the decision previously pronounced by the ACM, which imposes a weekly fine of 5 million euros to Apple since January 15, until the company finally decides to comply.
Since January 15, just over a month, Apple has had to pay a cumulative fine of 20 million euros, at the rate of 5 million per week of delay. If this should probably not weigh heavily in the finances of GAFAM, the sanction could however climb, up to 50 million euros in ceiling value had threatened the Dutch authority.
Apple challenges, the ACM attacks
However, the ACM’s decision did not take long to react to Apple, which believes that it has done everything to comply. An opinion that the ACM does not share: if the Apple has indeed authorized certain dating applications (and in particular those belonging to the Match group, owner of Tinder) to use third-party payment platforms for their in-app purchases, it does not really make it easy for developers. Not only will they still have to pay a heavy commission to the company, but they will also have to change applications.
In concrete terms, developers wishing to use alternative payments will have to submit a new app for Apple’s approval. If the latter is accepted, it will then be necessary to convince users to migrate from the old software to the new one. Complicated with an application as popular as Tinder for example. According to the Dutch antitrust authority, this is a series of conditions “unnecessary and unreasonable” from the company, which aims to discourage developers.
