Tim Cook told Apple's board that it shouldn't lose out to Korea's IAP bill

https://www.etnews.com/20211108000167

by summerlight • 5 years ago

3 1 5 years ago

Rough Translation of the article:

Apple CEO Tim Cook is known to hold an unacceptable position on South Korea's IAP Act. If Apple does not accept the Korean law, a head-on clash with the government and the National Assembly seems inevitable.

On the 8th, an official from the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee said, "We have confirmed that Tim Cook mentioned at Apple's board meeting that Apple should not lose out to Korea's IAP Act, through a report from a US civic group. Apple HQ also rejected partial improvement plans settled with Apple Korea" he said.

Multiple officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT also confirmed Tim Cook's instruction that "We should not lose out to the Korean market."

The Korean government and the National Assembly have continued discussions with Apple and Google after the passage of the amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act in September, which aims enforcement of a specific in-app payment method. The government and the National Assembly have requested improvement measures so that mobile content providers can freely select and use the payment method they want in the App Store.

In the process, it is known that some law firms and other officials representing Apple delivered the position of the Korean government and the National Assembly to the Apple HQ, but they did not hear any response for the improvement. In fact, in the first implementation plan of the IAP Act submitted to the Korea Communications Commission in October, Apple only expressed the position that "it is possible to use the iPhone/iPad app after paying on an external site." Since then, no further improvements have been made.

The fact that Apple's attitude toward the IAP has not changed even after consultations in Korea is supposed to be due to the will of Cook, the highest decision maker.

Apple is under pressure from South Korea, the United States and the European Union (EU) due to its App Store payment policy. The US and EU are pushing for amendments to antitrust laws to allow 'side loading', which enables app installations outside of the App Store. Apple is concerned about the situation in which if Korea allows external payments, it will motivate other countries for more strict regulation.

The conflict between Apple and the Korean government and the National Assembly is expected to escalate. The Korea Communications Commission will revise the enforcement decree of the Telecommunications Business Act within this year as early as this year to prohibit app markets from restricting mobile content providers using other payment methods or making it technically difficult. After the enforcement decree takes effect, Apple's actions may be subject to legal punishment. The resignation of former Apple Korea CEO Yoon Gu is also interpreted as related to this conflict.

Tim Cook told Apple's board that it shouldn't lose out to Korea's IAP bill

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