Apple refuses to open up payment channels Dutch antitrust agency: penalties until it complies

On Monday (January 24), tech giant Apple was fined 5 million euros (about $5.65 million) by the Dutch antitrust regulator for not opening up other payment channels to local dating app developers.

The ACM warned Apple about the matter last month, and Dutch judges have asked for a rectification by Jan. 15. However, ACM's statement released on Monday said that after investigation, Apple did not comply with the order.

The ACM said in a statement that "Apple has not met the requirements in several ways. One of the most important points is that developers of dating apps still can't use other payment channels, developers can only express their interest in this area. ”

In light of Apple's "repeated teachings," ACM has informed Apple that it will impose fines ranging from 5 million to 50 million euros per week on the company until Apple complies with the regulations.

Antitrust "regulars"

Apple has long required apps on the App Store to use its payment channels and take 15 to 30 percent of its digital transactions.

Epic Games has engaged in a protracted legal tug-of-war with Apple over this. For now, Epic has won part of the victory, with a U.S. judge ruling that Apple can't stop developers from directing users to app-related payments outside the App Store.

In January, the Korea Communications Commission also said that Apple would allow developers to offer third-party payment options in South Korea and reduce commission fees.

Not only that, but Apple's monopoly isn't limited to the App Store. Last November, Italy's antitrust regulator, AGCM, said Apple and Amazon signed an agreement in 2018 banning all resellers of Apple products and Beats products from operating on Amazon's italian website (amazon.it).

In response, AGCM fined Amazon 68.7 million euros and Apple 134.5 million euros.