South Korea approved detailed rules for a law banning dominant app store operators such as Apple Inc and Alphabet’s Google. This is from forcing software developers to use their payments systems. South Korea passed the law last year, an amendment to the Telecommunication Business Act.
It was the first such curb by a major economy on Apple and Google. They are facing a global criticism for requiring the use of proprietary payment systems that charge commissions of up to 30%. The enforcement ordinance, will be put into effect on March 15. The regulator Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said in a statement that they specify that the law bars, the act of forcing a specific payment method to a provider of mobile content, is by unfairly utilising the app market operator’s status. KCC Chairman Han Sang-hyuk stated that in order to prevent indirect regulatory avoidance, prohibited acts’ types and standards have been established.
Barred acts include app market operators unfairly delaying the review of mobile content, or refusing, delaying, restricting, deleting, or blocking the registration, renewal, or inspection of mobile content that uses third-party payment methods. Potential fines for infractions will go as high as 2% of an average annual revenue from related business practices.
