Japan Working on New Regulation To Ask Apple App Store and Google Play Store To Allow Third-Party Platform and Billing Systems: Report
The new regulation would ask Apple and Google to allow outside app stores and payments on their mobile operating systems, reports Nikkei Asia. The move is aimed at curbing their monopolies in the Japanese market.
Tokyo, December 29: Japan is reportedly working on a regulation that would require Google and Apple app stores to allow third-party platforms and their billing systems. The new regulation would ask Apple and Google to allow outside app stores and payments on their mobile operating systems, reports Nikkei Asia.
The move is aimed at curbing their monopolies in the Japanese market. According to the report, the legislation, slated to be sent to the parliament in 2024, would restrict moves by platform operators to keep users in the operators' own ecosystems and shut out rivals. Google Chrome Lawsuit: Google Agrees to Settle Class-Nation Lawsuit in US Over Its Browser’s Incognito Mode.
The bill would focus on four areas -- app stores and payments, search, browsers, and operating systems, the report mentioned. The bill would empower the Japanese Fair Trade Commission to fine violators and likely only impact foreign companies, according to Nikkei Asia. Apple ‘State-Sponsored Attacks’: Government Refutes Media Reports Claiming India Targeted Apple Over iPhone Hacking Notification.
"If this is modelled on existing antitrust law, the penalties would generally amount to around 6 per cent of revenue earned from the problematic activities,” said the report. Currently, in-app payments must go through Apple's system, which takes a commission of up to 30 per cent. Although Google allows third-party app distribution platforms, it still requires apps to use its billing system.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2023 11:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).