Apple is giving dating apps in the Netherlands more flexibility in choosing their service providers to process payments.
The tech group thus settled a dispute with the consumer protection authority ACM, which had led to recurring penalties totaling 50 million euros for Apple over several months.
Bastian Benrath
Editor in Business.
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The Dutch authority said on Saturday that Apple had "changed its unfair terms" and will now allow different payment methods in dating apps.
Apple basically stipulates that all apps in its App Store must process their payments via Apple's own payment system and pay the associated commission.
Tinder filed a complaint against Apple's rules
This tight control over app payments has sparked lawsuits and antitrust investigations, often centered on Apple's refusal to allow developers to redirect users to other payment methods.
There are now a number of exceptions to the rule.
In the case of the dating apps in the Netherlands, the Match Group, the group behind Tinder, had lodged a complaint with the ACM.
Apple said it doesn't believe the changes are in the interests of user privacy or security.
They were made because they were interested in constructive cooperation with regulators.
Observers rated the agreement as a success for European regulation and as an example of how far Apple is willing to go.
“In the digital economy, powerful companies have a special responsibility to keep the market fair and open.
Apple has shied away from this responsibility and has abused its dominance over dating app providers," said Martijn Snoep, CEO of ACM. "We are glad that Apple has finally brought its terms in line with European and Dutch competition rules," said he.
“This offers app providers more opportunities to compete.
And consumers will ultimately benefit too.”