The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) fined Apple $5 million in the Netherlands for failing to comply with alternate payment system requirements for dating apps.
The rules went into effect in January, and since then, Apple has been fined 5 million times a week. For a total of 50 million euros, this is the 10th fine. Apple has decided to allow dating apps in the Netherlands to use outside payment methods, but developers who wish to take advantage of this feature must submit a separate app and cannot offer third-party payment options and in-app purchases at the same time.
The ACM doesn't think that dating app developers should have to choose between using alternative payments or in-app payments, and that the apps must be able to offer both options. Apple has reduced its commission on purchases using third-party payment systems, asking for 27 percent instead of 30 percent, with developers required to submit a monthly record of sales so Apple can track its commission.
We will have to wait and see how the dispute between Apple and the Netherlands plays out, as last week's report said that Apple's fines could be higher. The ACM says that Apple's revised proposal should result in definitive conditions for dating-app providers that wish to use the App Store, putting an end to the fines.
Should Apple implement the new measures outlined in the proposal, the ACM will give a ruling on whether the company is in compliance. If the ACM decides Apple's proposal is not adequate, Apple could be subject to another order with higher penalties to encourage them to comply.
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