Italy: Apple, Google and Amazon settle issue

Apple, Google and Amazon have come to an agreement over freemium apps with Italy’s Antitrust and Competition Authority. These are apps that are free for users to download, but offer in-app purchases for things like extra powers or extra lives for a video game, that can be charged to a credit card.

All three companies have agreed to stop using the word free to describe freemium apps in the EU. They also agreed to give users a warning inside the app when an in-app purchase is being made. More than half the games online in the EU use the freemium model.

Apple, Google and Amazon have 90 days to make the changes. By agreeing to make them, each company is saved from having to pay as much as $5.65 million each in fines.

“We were able, together with the Antitrust Authority, to commit three giants of the web to change their behavior—not only in Italy but throughout Europe—this does not happen every day. Now we must ensure that the commitments are respected.”-Marco Pierani, head of public affairs.

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