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11 months ago
Published February 28, 2022 by

Reuters: Apple has yet to pay Dutch authorities a single Euro

From "Dutch consumer watchdog gives Apple fifth $5.7 million fine in App Store dispute" posted Monday by Reuters:

The Dutch antitrust watchdog fined Apple (AAPL.O) 5 million euros ($5.7 million) on Monday, the fifth such penalty in successive weeks in a row over access to non-Apple payment methods for subscriptions to dating apps.

The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) says the iPhone maker is abusing a dominant market position by failing to allow software application makers in the Netherlands to use other payment methods for dating apps accessible via its App Store.

"We have clearly explained to Apple how they can comply...," the watchdog said in a statement. "So far, however, they have refused to put forward any serious proposals."

Neither Apple nor the ACM have commented on whether any of the weekly fines have been paid, but it is understood that all are still outstanding.

My take: The weekly 5-million Euro fines are scheduled to end after 10 weeks.

See also:

7 Comments

  1. Thomas Larkin said:
    IMHO, The Dutch regulator is guilty of gross overreach here, accompanied by vague criteria and a draconian remedy, with, once again, no way for Apple to win without risk to the higher level of security, privacy and safety its customers have not just chosen, but chosen to pay more for. Most Apple customers could frankly care less about saving a few bucks on apps, in-app purchases and subscriptions. Apple is simply providing the type of privacy and security the European regulators are also adopting rules for, and then some. The stench of the money behind this little drive should now be apparent. Consumers beware, the data miners and resellers, and those reliant on it, have no scruples about collecting and reselling information about you and your loved ones, and do not want you to have the choice in that regard.

    Absolutely Apple should fight this gross overreach of regulatory authority. Time to shine the light on this rats nest, enough so we can clearly see all the rats.

    11
    February 28, 2022
  2. David Emery said:
    I don’t know Dutch law, but I wonder if Apple has formally filed an appeal or similar court papers that would allow Apple to delay (and probably escrow) fines pending resolution of the court challenge.

    2
    February 28, 2022
  3. Bart Yee said:
    Apple should put all the fine money into an escrow account a la the Ireland fine and appeal the Dutch ruling to higher general European courts (although perhaps a risky gambit). Either way, Apple takes whatever time it needs to formulate rules and requirements that meet Apple’s needs, not the Dutch.

    Keep withholding from those Dutch bastids as long as needed.

    1
    February 28, 2022
    • Thomas Williams said:
      I believe this is the case. The fines are being deposited into an interest-bearing Escrow account. One thing is certain, Apple has a raft of lawyers or one or two really good lawyers in the Nederlands. They have a busy store right there in The Hague. Another in Haarlem. We’re all familiar with the 3rd location on Leidseplein. I enjoy the Low Countries.

      3
      February 28, 2022
  4. Daniel Epstein said:
    Apple has responded to the regulators. Seemingly insufficient to suspend the continuing fines. Since the fines are contingent on the solution being operational and acceptable this makes some procedural sense even if one disagrees. Read the See Also link Philip has provided for the Reuters article. Apple Insider has also been writing about the issue

    0
    February 28, 2022
  5. Fred Stein said:
    Broken record here:

    Dating Apps, regardless of platform, are happy hunting grounds for predators, sexual and financial.

    The ACM wants to make it easy for predators to get the credit card info from their victims

    The ACM are either mentally impaired or corrupt, taking bribes.

    6
    February 28, 2022
  6. Michael Goldfeder said:
    Apple will always fight these ludicrous regulations being proffered by equally feckless regulators which are nothing more than an instant exit ramp slide into the dark web for hacking of Apple customers private financial information. I make purchases through the App Store as I know Apple has my back and keeps tight reins on who is allowed to even be on the App Store Platform. Any App developer who insists on dealing directly with Apple customers instantly puts themselves in the category of: Caveat Emptor. A place no current Apple customer will want to be IMO.

    4
    February 28, 2022

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