Dutch Antitrust Regulator Fines Apple Another $5M Over Payment Methods

The Dutch antitrust watchdog has fined Apple €5 million ($5.7 million) over the issue of access to non-Apple payments for dating apps subscriptions, Reuters reported Monday (Feb. 21).

This is the fifth week in a row a penalty has been levied against Apple by the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).

The ACM says the iPhone maker has been abusing its dominant position through not allowing software applications in the Netherlands to use any other payment modes.

Apple had a deadline of Jan. 15 to make the changes, but it didn’t do so, according to the report.

That was not the position of the company, which indicated that it had complied with the ruling through letting dating app makers submit a new app with alternative payment methods enabled. But Apple said it still intends to charge a 27% commission on any in-app payments it doesn’t process — a slight decline from the 30% it charges now.

The ACM has, as such, been levying weekly fines of €5 million since Apple missed that deadline.

In a statement, the watchdog said that it has clearly explained to Apple how it can comply, adding, “So far, however, they have refused to put forward any serious proposals.”

The ACM rejected Apple’s moves for reportedly putting an unreasonable burden on developers.

PYMNTS reported on the situation earlier in the month, writing that the payment terms, according to ACM, were “unreasonable” and made for an additional barrier for people.

See also: Apple Fined Again in Dutch Dating App Case

The reduced percentages Apple takes now, and the new rules, still hurt dating app providers because it makes them develop a new app and submit it to the company, which comes with more costs.

Apple has thus far paid €20 million ($22.6 million), with Dutch law saying Apple can be fined up to €50 million ($56.5 million) total.

The series of fines comes after Apple has been seeing controversy in numerous countries because of the way it makes users use its own in-house payment method, which cuts off competitors. That has led to several lawsuits and antitrust investigations.