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| Apple faces ninth weekly fine in the Netherlands |
Apple is threatened with a new fine in the Netherlands over an antitrust order related to dating apps. If the developer wishes, they should allow the original dating app to use third-party payment technology instead of using the payment API built into the company's iOS app.
Since January, the Consumers and Markets Authority has imposed a series of weekly fines on companies that do not comply with the order.
In this case, the last (ninth) fine increases the total amount of the fine imposed on the company by 5 million euros. The total fine is 45 million euros (up to 50 million euros if he fails again to comply with the regulators' demands next week).
The company responded to a series of fines during the period and said it complied, although regulators apparently had a different view.
Authorities called the company's response disappointing and unreasonable, and accused it of creating unnecessary obstacles for developers who want to use non-company payment technology to process in-app payments, rather than giving them the ability to do so.
The conflict lasted for weeks. But there may be signs of change on Apple's part. According to the authorities, the company has submitted a new offer. Authorities said they are checking them to see if they are suitable.
"We are now examining the content of these proposals," a spokesman for the authorities said in a statement. We also meet with different market participants. Our goal is to complete this review as quickly as possible. The agency did not provide details about what Apple is providing in the revised compliance offer.
The spokesperson added: “The company failed to respond to the authorities’ request until the end of last week. As a result, it had to pay a ninth fine. This brings its total current debt to 45 million euros.”
Although the antitrust regulation only applies in the Netherlands and to certain applications. But it sparked interest at the top in Europe.
Policy makers are watching the process as they work on the final details of competition law reform.
Apple pays 45 million euros
The European Union is finalizing a digital competition policy called the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This policy applies to online platforms.
European Union Commissioner Margrethe Vestager made special reference to the Netherlands in a speech last month. He accused Apple of preferring to pay regular fines rather than complying with competition rules it does not agree to.
It also warns that obligations relating to third-party access to the Apple App Store may be among the obligations included in the Direct Market Access (DMA).
EU law provides for fines of up to 10% of annual global sales. The EU is also likely to respond to breaches of regulation by imposing structural remedies by ordering the companies to be terminated.