Netherlands Watchdog Requires Apple To Allow Alternate Payment Methods

The Netherlands’ top competition regulator said Apple broke the country’s competition laws and ordered changes to the iPhone maker’s App Store payment policies, reported Reters.

Apple’s practice of requiring app developers to use its in-app payment system and pay commissions of 15% to 30% on digital goods purchases has come under scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers around the world.

An investigation by the Netherlands’ Authority for Consumers and Markets on whether Apple’s practices amounted to an abuse of a dominant market position was launched in 2019. But it was later reduced in scope to focus primarily on dating market apps, including Tinder owner Match Group.

Related: Netherlands Antitrust Regulator Nears Decision On App Store Case

“We disagree with the order issued by the ACM and have filed an appeal,” Apple said in a statement. It added that “Apple does not have a dominant position in the market for software distribution in the Netherlands, has invested tremendous resources helping developers of dating apps reach customers and thrive on the App Store.”
The regulator’s decision said Apple violated competition laws. It has ordered Apple to adjust the unreasonable conditions in its App Store that apply to dating-app providers.