Again in 2022, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) in Russia accused Apple of anti-competitive practices in relation to the iOS App Retailer. Final yr, the regulator determined to nice the U.S. firm 1.2 billion rubles (which was $17.4 million on the time), and now the Russian authorities claims to have lastly acquired the cash from Apple.
Apple fined by Russian authorities
As reported by Russian information company TASS, Apple is claimed to have paid the 1.2 billion ruble nice (now value $13.4 million) to the FAS on January 19, 2024. The report says that the cash “was acquired by the federal government of the Russian Federation” after the Russian antitrust watchdog dominated that the corporate had been violating antitrust laws with the iOS App Retailer.
In keeping with the FAS, the nice was as a result of “Apple compelled Russian builders of iOS apps to make use of the corporate’s cost instrument of their apps.” The regulator additionally famous that the App Retailer tips prohibit builders from “informing prospects contained in the app about the potential of paying for purchases exterior the App Retailer and utilizing various cost strategies.”
Nonetheless, regardless of having paid the nice, there’s no phrase on whether or not Apple has agreed to vary the App Retailer’s enterprise mannequin in Russia to adjust to native regulation. Lately within the U.S., Apple was compelled to let builders redirect customers to various cost strategies on the internet after the Supreme Court docket denied the corporate’s attraction.
Even so, the corporate will nonetheless cost a 27% fee on gross sales exterior the App Retailer based mostly on an audit of app builders. And shortly, Apple will even be compelled to permit various cost strategies and even sideloading for customers within the European Union.
Apple’s state of affairs in Russia
Apple’s state of affairs in Russia is considerably difficult. After the nation invaded Ukraine in 2022, the corporate suspended gross sales of its merchandise in Russia, whereas Apple Pay was additionally shut down within the nation due to sanctions imposed by the U.S. authorities and the European Union.
Nonetheless, Apple has opted to not droop its different providers within the nation – particularly the App Retailer. Though the corporate has by no means commented on its choice, it’s probably that it has chosen to not deny Russian residents entry to apps and knowledge. {Hardware} providers are additionally supplied for Russian prospects.
Since Apple nonetheless operates in Russia regardless of not promoting its newest {hardware} formally, it’s nonetheless topic to penalties for not complying with native regulation. Apparently, for the reason that Russian authorities now permits parallel imports to keep away from sanctions, Russians can nonetheless discover the newest Apple gadgets in some shops.
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