Apple gives in to Dutch dating app developers
Apple rang up fines in the Netherlands totaling $52.58 million
That is what happened last year when mobile gaming developer Epic tried to promote its own payment platform for its popular Fortnite game which would have resulted in players paying less for in-game currency. Apple reacted by kicking Epic and the Fortnite game out of the App Store. And in the Netherlands, Apple’s failure to allow consumers to pay for dating apps using alternative payment methods resulted in Apple getting fined weekly.
![Epic offered its own in-app payment platform for Fortnite users so they could bypass Apple's cut of in-app payments - Apple gives in to Dutch dating app developers](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/articles/389880-image/epicplat.jpg)
Epic offered its own in-app payment platform for Fortnite users so they could bypass Apple’s cut of in-app payments
The statement goes on to say, “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.”
Dating app developers in the Netherlands will still pay Apple 27% of the value of an in-app transaction
Martijn Snoep, Chairman of the Board of ACM, said, “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.”
Apple released a statement today that says, “We don’t believe some of these changes are in the best interests of our users’ privacy or data security. As we’ve previously said, we disagree with the ACM’s original order and are appealing it.”
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