14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has recently updated the App Store guidelines to allow alternative payment methods for dating apps available in the Netherlands, and the country’s Authority for Consumers and Markets has released a statement to confirm the change.
ACM says Apple simply abused of its position in the country and enforced its very own payment system for all apps, so thanks to this update, the company finally gives up on what it describes as unfair conditions.
“Apple has changed its unfair conditions, and will now allow different methods of payment in Dutch dating apps. With this concession, Apple will meet the requirements that the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) set under European and Dutch competition rules,” the announcement reads.
“Until recently, customers of dating apps had only been able to pay using the payment method that Apple imposed. In ACM’s opinion, Apple abused its dominant position with those practices. From now on, dating-app providers are able to let their customers pay in different ways. ACM forced these changes by imposing an order subject to periodic penalty payments. In the end, the sum of all penalty payments totaled 50 million euros.”
Apple already fined
The case started back in August 2021, when Apple was fined for enforcing its own payment system in dating apps available in the Netherlands. Despite appealing the decision and reaching out to the court to suspend the order, the company lost the case in December.
So beginning with January, Apple started getting the periodic penalties, and right now, ACM says the Cupertino-based tech giant must pay no more, no less than 50 million euros.
“We want everyone to be able to reap the benefits of the digital economy. In the digital economy, powerful companies have a special responsibility to keep the market fair and open. Apple avoided that responsibility, and abused its dominant position vis-à-vis dating-app providers. We are glad that Apple has finally brought its conditions in line with European and Dutch competition rules. That offers app providers more opportunities to compete. And consumers will ultimately reap the benefits, too,” Martijn Snoep, Chairman of the Board of ACM, said.