The Dutch antitrust watchdog fined Apple EUR 5 million (roughly Rs. 4.2 crore), the fifth such penalty in successive weeks in a row over entry to non-Apple fee strategies for subscriptions to relationship apps. 

The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) says the iPhone maker is abusing a dominant market place by failing to permit software program software makers within the Netherlands to make use of different fee strategies for relationship apps accessible through its App Store.

The ACM has been levying weekly fines of EUR 5 million (roughly Rs. 40 crore) since Apple missed a January 15 deadline to make modifications that the watchdog had mandated.

It stated the US firm had not made any new proposal to adjust to its ruling previously week.

“We have clearly explained to Apple how they can comply…,” the watchdog stated in a press release. “So far, however, they have refused to put forward any serious proposals.” Apple declined touch upon Monday.

Apple’s App Store requirement that app builders solely use its fee system with commissions of 30 p.c has come underneath scrutiny in a number of international locations, most lately the United States.

In weblog posts, Apple indicated it complied with the Dutch ruling by permitting relationship app makers there to submit a brand new app with different fee strategies enabled.

Apple stated it nonetheless intends to cost a 27 p.c fee on any in-app funds it doesn’t course of, solely barely under the 30 p.c it prices on these it does course of.

The ACM has rejected Apple’s strikes as placing an unreasonable burden on software program builders and never amounting to compliance.

Neither Apple nor the ACM have commented on whether or not any of the weekly fines have been paid, however it’s understood that every one are nonetheless excellent.

© Thomson Reuters 2022