The UK Competition and Markets Authority has decided to terminate its inquiry into Apple

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the United Kingdom has concluded its examination into Apple's system for in-app payments.

According to a release by the CMA, although ending the probe "does not equate to a decision", the case is being terminated due to "administrative priority" considerations.

The CMA's statement clarified its commitment to "continue to monitor Apple’s market behavior." It also mentioned that shutting the case for administrative reasons doesn't restrict the CMA from potentially launching a new investigation under Chapter II rules or taking action related to conduct from this inquiry, if necessary in the future.

The decision follows an internal assessment recognizing that due to the evolving nature of the case and the extensive time any enforcement might require, it opted to wind down the investigation.

In March, the European Commission began evaluating Apple's business practices to assess compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). By June, initial findings suggested that Apple breached these guidelines, uncovering potential issues stemming from Apple's mandate that some developers utilize its payment system for digital content purchases, potentially restricting developers from choosing alternative payment services.

Consequently, Apple has modified its policies in the European Union, allowing developers to direct users to other payment solutions or highlight deals available on platforms outside of Apple's in-app payment ecosystem.