Oliver Haslam·

Apple Takes Issue With Japan’s Claims That It Should Allow Third-Party App Stores And Lower Platform Fees

Apple has responded to a report by Japanese authorities that claims it should allow third-party app stores onto its devices by saying that disagrees with a number of the conclusions of the report.

According to a report by The Japan Times, Apple believes that it is currently facing “intense competition” regardless of the belief that its installation of Safari onto all iPhones impacts the ability of third-party alternatives to compete.

The same Japanese report also pointed to the 30% cut that Apple takes from App Store sales, saying that the company should allow third-party app stores to be offered to allow users to make the decision of where to source apps themselves.

The U.S. technology giant said in a statement, “We respectfully disagree with a number of conclusions” in the government report released the same day that expressed concern over the strong influence of Apple and Alphabet Inc.’s Google LLC in the OS market.

Apple added that it is facing “intense competition in every segment” in which it operates, adding that it will continue to “engage constructively with the Japanese government.”

This latest attention from the Japanese is just another example of international governments looking into the way Apple does business via the App Store. Rick VanMeter, Executive Director of the Coalition for App Fairness, believes this is another example of why it’s important for competition to be fostered on Apple’s platforms.

With this interim report, Japan joins the growing chorus of regulators and policymakers that are putting Big Tech gatekeepers on notice for their anticompetitive practices. The report makes it clear that developers and consumers thrive when there is competition in the app ecosystem. We strongly agree with these findings and look forward to engaging with Japanese regulators and policymakers as they work to bolster innovation and allow for a free and fair mobile app marketplace.

For now, Apple says that it will engage with the Japanese government to come up with a solution, although none of that is likely to mean third-party app stores will be available on iPhones and iPads anytime soon.

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