Japan is sticking to its plans to follow the European Union’s lead and require sideloading and alternative payment systems to be allowed in app stores. This would particularly affect Apple and Google. Corresponding laws are due to be passed in 2024. According to current planning, the details should be determined in the spring.
Advertisement
As Nikkei reports, the new regulations should apply to search engines, browsers and operating systems in addition to app stores and payment systems. In the event of violations, companies should have to pay around six percent of the disputed revenue as a penalty. In the EU there are even penalties of up to 10 percent of a company’s global annual turnover. As with the Digital Markets Act, which companies are considered gatekeepers is determined based on sales and user numbers.
Japan large mobile app market
The focus of the planned laws would primarily be on large tech companies from the USA. In the case of app stores, these should allow apps to be downloaded onto mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets even outside of their app stores. It is currently not expected that Japanese companies will also be affected by the new laws.
Apple and Google are preparing to comply with European regulations that will take full effect from 2024. At least Apple is reportedly planning to limit the opening of its App Store to Europe for the time being. Another country would be added: Japan, which is one of the largest markets for mobile apps in the world. This year, mobile app sales in Japan are expected to reach $29.2 billion, Nikkei has learned from the government. Google allows sideloading in Android, but insists on using its payment system for in-app purchases.
(mki)