According to a new Reuters report, the Dutch antitrust authority has ruled that Apple's App Store rules surrounding the mandatory use of Apple's in-app purchases are anti-competitive.
Apparently, the investigation has shown that the obligation to use Apple's in-app purchasing system exclusively represents an unfair monopoly. The ruling has not yet been published at Apple's request and is currently being examined by a legal authority, according to Reuters. In the Dutch case, the investigation was triggered by complaints in the dating app market, led by Match Group (parent company of Tinder and many other dating apps). This is just the latest case in a long line of antitrust cases currently being brought against Apple.
App Store rules: Apple has already announced changes
Apple's dominance of in-app purchases is a particular point of contention, as the company makes huge profits from the 15-30% commission it charges on all digital transactions in the App Store. Just this year, Apple has made notable concessions in response to pressure from antitrust regulators. For example, starting next year, Apple will allow developers to tell customers that they can also purchase the same digital goods online through their website. This change is in response to a settlement with Japan's Fair Trade Commission and a result of the Epic vs. Apple lawsuit. However, Apple has not yet released updated App Store Review Guidelines incorporating these changes, so it's not yet clear what exactly will be allowed. (Photo by Burdun / Bigstockphoto)
