Apple is facing an investigation in South Korea. The company has not changed the payment rules of the App Store

South Korean authorities are unhappy with Apple. Last month, they ordered her and Google to relax payment rules in app stores. Google agreed to make concessions, but Apple did not change anything. Now Korean officials are preparing to investigate Tim Cook‘s company.

Photo: Mike Segar from Reuters

This is reported by Reuters with reference to the Communication Commission of South Korea.

According to representatives of the commission, Apple notified officials that it allegedly already complies with the instructions of the authorities and does not need to change the App Store policy. But, apparently, the department does not agree with her statement.

Now the agency is negotiating with the company. It requires Apple to launch updated payment rules in the App Store. If Apple refuses, the Koreans will launch an investigation. It is reported that according to its outcome, the company may face a “fine or other sanctions”.

Apple has not yet commented on the situation.

According to Jung Jong-chae, an antitrust specialist, Apple loses more than Google due to Korean policy.

“The difference in how willing Apple and Google are to make concessions may be related to the level of their control. Apple controls everything from hardware to the operating system, from the app store to the payment system. If she loses her dominance on any of these fronts, she may be called upon to become more open on others,” the lawyer believes.

Recall that on September 15, the so—called “Law against Google” came into force in South Korea – an amendment to the law on telecommunications business. It prohibits mobile stores from imposing their payment systems on developers. Two weeks later, the authorities decided to give Apple and Google a postponement until mid-October so that they could fully understand the legislation and prepare a plan for how they would comply with it. Google has already informed the commission that it will allow third-party payment systems to be used in Google Play and will discuss this issue in detail with the agency next week.