Apple Still in Dutch in the Netherlands

28 MARCH 2022 - If you were excited about the Dutch App Store fines story coming to an end, that may not be a thing that’s actually happening. At the very end of last year, Dutch regulators ruled that Apple had to allow developers of dating apps in the App Store in the Netherlands to allow third-party billing options, rather than limiting them to Apple’s own in-app payment mechanism. At the time, the regulators said, “If Apple does not adjust the unreasonable conditions within two months, it will have to pay a periodic penalty of 5 million euros per week up to a maximum of 50 million euros.”

Apple has appealed the regulator’s ruling. It’s also offered a couple of proposals to come in-line with regulatory demands. The first, submitted in early February was rejected. Last week, the ACM said Apple had submitted “new proposals,” that it would “assess the substance of these proposals,” and that it would consider the proposals along with “various market participants.” Now, those have been rejected as well. Over the weekend, without saying what Apple’s proposals were nor with which other parties it had consulted, Engadget has the ACM rejecting Apple’s latest offer. Highlighting a Reuters report, the piece says Apple “has yet to adhere to the order in a way that satisfies” Dutch regulators. 

Sort of odd that Apple would try one more proposal as the whole situation was coming to an end. Today’s €5 million fine brings the total levied to €50 million, the most allowed according to Dutch regulators. Dutch regulators who may have changed their minds. Highlighting the same Reuters report, a piece from MacRumors says “now it looks like the total fines could exceed” the aforementioned 50-million. That piece has Reuters indicating that “subsequent fines after the 50 million euro total could be higher…”