The Netherlands antitrust authority has ruled that Appleās in-app payment system requirements are anti-competitive and must be changed.
News of the decision was revealed exclusively by Reuters, which reports that The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) found that Apple is abusing its market power by forcing developers to use its in-app payment system. The Authority informed Apple of the decision one month ago. It is not seeking a fine, but it demands that Apple make changes to its developer requirements.
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Apple has come under fire for its illegal App Store policies in multiple jurisdictions, including major antitrust investigations in the EU, United States, South Korea, Japan, and elsewhere. But the investigation by The Netherlands has been ongoing for two years, and it was triggered by complaints by market apps like Match.com and Tinder, which told them that Apple will not allow them to communicate with their own customers.
Apple is appealing the case, and it asked for an injunction to block publication of the ruling against it during that appeal. The ACM has not commented on the leak of the news, but the Rotterdam District Court confirmed Appleās injunction request.