According to regulators, Google’s app store rules are being investigated by the Dutch Consumer Markets Authority (ACM) after app agreements complain about the terms of use for Google Play Billing, an in-app payment service.
“The Dutch Consumer Markets Authority (ACM) has decided to begin a preliminary investigation into the possibility of abuse of control by the Google Play store,” a spokesman for the Dutch agency told POLITICO on Wednesday. “Dating app providers are allegedly unable to use payment systems other than Google’s payment system.”
“Dating apps claim that they are no longer allowed to refer to other payment methods,” a spokeswoman said. “Match Group has submitted a request for enforcement to ACM, asking ACM to assess whether Google is abusing its dominant position.”
This study is a world of how Google and Apple set rules for software developers who rely on the app store to reach customers for Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS-based phones and tablets. Expand the line. ACM has already ordered Apple to offer an alternative payment method for the app and fined € 50 million for the breach. On Monday, it said it was seeking new orders to impose new fines. Match upheld ACM in a Dutch proceeding in last year’s case.
A Google spokesperson said Match apps “pay only 15 percent on Google Play for digital subscriptions, which is the lowest rate of any major app platform.” Search giant Android operating system “provides multiple ways to distribute apps to Android users, either directly through websites or as consumer-only apps, through other Android app stores,” the company said. Says.
The new Dutch case may be reflected elsewhere in Europe. A similar complaint against Google was also filed with the Federal Cartel Office in Germany. This week, the European Commission has escalated another aspect of phone payments by filing a formal antitrust violation with Apple over access to tap-and-go technology.
The new Google Play Store rules will come into force in April, requiring developers to use the company’s own payment system to sell app services. According to Google, non-compliant apps will be removed from the Play Store from June 1st.
Apps with annual sales of more than $ 1 million will have to pay Google a 30% commission on sales made through the company’s in-app payment system. Those who earn below this threshold will pay Google a 15% reduction.
The match did not respond to the request for comment.
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