The Competition Board has decided to launch an investigation into Apple Inc. and Apple Technology and Sales Limited Company for not allowing the use of alternative payment systems on the App Store and for imposing anti-steering provisions on mobile app developers.
According to the announcement on the Competition Authority’s website, the “Mobile Ecosystems Sector Review” is being conducted to understand the structure, operation, and potential structural or behavioral competition issues in the sector regarding mobile smart devices and related software. The announcement highlighted that Apple’s agreements with app developers and its “App Review Guidelines” were scrutinized, raising suspicions that Apple imposed certain restrictions on payment systems for app developers on the App Store.
It was pointed out that developers are prevented from informing users about alternative payment channels outside the app, restricting consumers from being aware of the existence of alternative payment channels and the price differences between in-app and out-of-app purchases, thus limiting their access to better options (lower prices).
The announcement also mentioned that placing links directing to alternative payment channels outside the app within the app is prohibited. Therefore, it needs to be examined whether Apple, by mandating its own payment system, eliminates the freedom of choice for app developers and blocks the entry of other payment systems into the Apple ecosystem.
Another restriction imposed by Apple on app developers is the mandatory use of Apple’s own payment system for in-app purchases. It was stated that transactions related to the sale of in-app digital content must be carried out through Apple’s payment system.
The announcement indicated that it is necessary to investigate whether Apple, by making its payment system mandatory, eliminates the freedom of choice for app developers and blocks the entry of other payment systems into the Apple ecosystem. It concluded by stating, “The Competition Board has decided to launch an investigation to determine whether Apple Inc. and Apple Technology and Sales Limited Company have violated Article 6 of the Law on the Protection of Competition by not allowing the use of alternative payment systems on the App Store and imposing anti-steering provisions on mobile app developers.”
source: aa.com.tr/ prepared by Melisa Beğiç