The technical body of Brazilian antitrust regulator CADE recommended on Monday a decision against Apple for what it called anti-competitive practices in the company’s App Store.
Reuters:
The move follows complaints filed in 2022 by firms including Latin American e-commerce platform MercadoLibre over Apple’s alleged restrictions on the distribution of digital goods and on in-app purchases.
In a statement, CADE said its technical body recommended a fine, although did not specify what amount, as well as Apple putting an end to the practices. The case will be decided by an internal panel, it added.
Apple said in a statement it was concerned that the proposed measures would undermine users’ experiences and pose risks to their privacy and security, adding it will continue to dialogue with CADE.
The technical body found Apple imposes a series of restrictive practices related to the sale of digital content inside its iOS ecosystem, including requiring in-app purchases be made using Apple’s payment system.
MacDailyNews Take: So, if these proposed measures take effect in Brazil, Apple would no longer be allowed to prohibit developers from providing links or other communications that direct users away from Apple in-app purchasing.
You know, because Best Buy and Target are forced by a regulators to place signs in their store next to each product that advertise lower prices for the same items at Walmart.
Oh, wait, they aren’t forced to do that by some ditzy bureaucrat. Because it’s ludicrous, illogical, and just plan wrong.
If developers like MercadoLibre want to advertise lower prices using Apple’s App Store, Apple should simply charge an in-store advertising fee. We suggest it be 15% for developers making under $1 million per year and 30% for those making $1 million or more annually. 🙂
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
The point isn’t that best buy or target have to show lower prices from Walmart. The point is if you don’t like best buy’s price or target’s price you can buy the same product from Walmart. IOS only lets you buy from Apple only. There should be freedom to choose whatever app store on IOS you want. Whether that is Apple’s or some other competitor who will do it for less. Just like you should be able to choose the browser of your choice or anything else.