Too high app commissions: the Netherlands gives Apple more time for changes

Dutch competitive guardians forced Apple to change controversial app store requirements early on. However, the iPhone group there does not have to lower the commissions on in-app purchases in dating apps that are too high-despite a judicial order that has already been carried out.

Because of the current discussions between Apple and the EU Commission, the company will have more time to adapt its fee model for apps, As the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) announced. The regulators want to prevent “several parallel conversations on the same topic”.

Dispute over Apple’s commission on in-app purchases

With a high penalty and threat of further sensitive compulsory money, the EU Commission Apple has already forced to revise the fee model for the App Store again. By the end of the year, the group plans to establish uniform rules for the commissions that app developers have to pay for the sale of digital content. The latest proposal is much more complex than the previous models and – among other fees – includes a “Core Technology Commission” that replaces the much discussed “Core Technology Fee”. Ultimately, apps are expected to resign up to 20 percent of their sales with digital content to Apple – instead of up to 30 percent.

The Dutch ACM had already forced Apple to allow dating apps to integrate external purchase options well ahead of the Digital Markets Act-this was strictly forbidden in the app store. However, Apple continued to estimate a high commission for external purchases and thus also abused its market power, confirmed the Rotterdam district court in June and ordered an immediate change in the fee model.

Apple should no longer demand a high commission from dating apps, while most other apps do not have to pay a commission at all, explains the ACM. Apple commission only applies to digital content. In contrast to this, physical goods and services may be sold directly in apps without Apple having a involvement.

Apple gets a little more time

However, the ACM now decided not to request the implementation of the arrangement directly and therefore not to impose a penalty payment for the time being. Apple has time to adapt its fee model in exchange with the EU Commission. This also gives the ACM time to check whether Apple’s upcoming fee model is no longer an abuse of a dominant position.