Japan: Regulator is targeting App Store – as in Europe

Maybe soon no longer “Big in Japan”: Apple’s App Store could now also lose market shares in competitive marketplaces in the country of the rising sun. The local authority Japan Fair Trade Commission, which is committed to free trade in the country, has decided, similar to the EU Commission (as part of its digital markets Act, DMA), to regulate the Apple software shop for the iPhone. A corresponding examination has been running since 2020, now came A final report of almost 120 pages out of here.

Rules will take place from December 18th

According to this, from December 18, it is no longer allowed to prefer your own apps to those of third -party providers, which arises that Apple can no longer “benefit” from the self -collected data from the operating system. It is also not allowed to “delay, dismiss or hinder” third-party apps “unfairly, or otherwise hinder” regarding their visibility in the App Store.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission requires a “firewall” between the different teams-app store employees should no longer have access to certain data that could give you an advantage. Finally, the first-time party app marketplaces in Japan are allowed, as well as payment services from third parties, either in the competing app marketplaces or in your own apps. All of this is strongly reminiscent of the regime, which the EU DMA also wants to reach and which is legally pursued by Epic Games and other providers in the United States.

Japan also goes against Google

Meanwhile, the measures affect not only Apple, but also Google with its play store. But as within the EU, the focus is on Apple in reporting on the subject – even if Android in Japan market leader is just as you know that from Europe and the USA.

According to the authority, the new rules are taken step by step into the “enforcement”, even if they come into force to the said December 18. The Japan Fair Trade Commission also plans a kind of “awareness campaign” to share developers and users which (new) rights they have. As the EU has forced measures, the regulator has available if Apple and Google should not implement the new rules.