Apple's App Store Practices Again to Be Investigated in South Korea, Despite Change to Allow Third-Party Payment Systems

[MacRumors]

Apple is to again be investigated by South Korea's telecommunications regulator, alongside Google and One Store, over suspected violations of in-app payment rules.

In a statement (via Reuters), the Korea Communications Commissions (KCC) said that it conducted an inspection of Apple, Google, and One Store since May 17 to determine if they have violated in-app payment laws, and concluded that all three companies may have done so. Such contraventions could include 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.

If the new probe discovers malpractice, the KCC may issue correction orders and impose fines up to as high as two percent of the average annual revenue from relevant business practices, but there is as yet little detail on the specific violations of the law the regulator suspects may have occurred.

In January, Apple announced that it would comply with a new South Korean law that bans app store operators from requiring developers to use their own in-app purchase systems. In late June, the change came into effect, enabling developers to offer alternative payment systems in South Korea.

It is unclear exactly why Apple is under investigation, given that it now allows developers to offer third-party payment systems on the South Korean App Store. One explanation could be that the KCC deems Apple to have taken too long to comply with the change in the law, since it came into effect in March, but Apple only began informing developers that they could use third-party payment systems in late June.

Article Link: Apple's App Store Practices Again to Be Investigated in South Korea, Despite Change to Allow Third-Party Payment Systems

 

[syklee26]

Every country has its own laws. Abide by it or face punishment.

 

[6787872]

good. apple wants to continue it's sketchy practices, let them suffer the consequences. jailing their corrupt executives would be ideal but nobody in the states would ever do it.

 

[IamTimCook]

Apple will never win there, ever. There is only a puppet government in South Korea. The big three families rule that country, and the Samsung family is one of those three.

 

[antiprotest]

good. apple wants to continue it's sketchy practices, let them suffer the consequences. jailing their corrupt executives would be ideal but nobody in the states would ever do it.

Maybe other countries will also investigate their half speed SSD in the M2 base model, while most people would assume that it would be the same SSD as the higher storage models. Something like this is sketchy, if not outright fraud.

 

[q64ceo]

Apple will never win there, ever. There is only a puppet government in South Korea. The big three families rule that country, and the Samsung family is one of those three.

Then perhaps Apple should stop giving the real masters of Japan ammunition to take themselves down.

 

[Agit21]

Apple will never win there, ever. There is only a puppet government in South Korea. The big three families rule that country, and the Samsung family is one of those three.

Just like in the US, Germany, Japan, China, Russia, Brazil....... the list goes on.

 

[Kabeyun]

It’s almost as if competing phones were made there… /i

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Apple will never win there, ever. There is only a puppet government in South Korea. The big three families rule that country, and the Samsung family is one of those three.

No idea why you're being downvoted, you're absolutely right. The chaebols don't mess around.

 

[MysticCow]

Tell them to go pound sand UNTIL full guidance documents are issued stating in exact terms what needs to be done.

Getting sick and tired of what seems to be an endlessly moving target.

 

[bassexpander]

Apple Pay is still not allowed, here.

When the IPhone first came out, the Korean government came up with every excuse it could to delay its entry. It was the better part of a year before Apple was allowed in -- giving Samsung just enough time to make the first Galaxy phone.

IPad was a similar story, with government officials making threats about importing it illegally (all while some were appearing on the news giving national speeches about other issues, while appearing with an IPad on the lecturn).

 

[George Bailey]

Maybe other countries will also investigate their half speed SSD in the M2 base model, while most people would assume that it would be the same SSD as the higher storage models. Something like this is sketchy, if not outright fraud.

Half speed?
Also if Apple doesn't lie about how fast it is, how is a slightly slower drive fraud?

 

[incoherent_1]

Just like in the US, Germany, Japan, China, Russia, Brazil....... the list goes on.

Grouping “US, Germany” alongside “China, Russia” all in the same category shows a worrying level of willful ignorance here.

 

[cocky jeremy]

"Samsung can't beat you on their own, so lets see if we can help."-South Korea

 

[cocky jeremy]

Maybe other countries will also investigate their half speed SSD in the M2 base model, while most people would assume that it would be the same SSD as the higher storage models. Something like this is sketchy, if not outright fraud.

They don't give out specs like that, so there's really no issue. They never promise X SSD speeds.

 

[syklee26]

Apple will never win there, ever. There is only a puppet government in South Korea. The big three families rule that country, and the Samsung family is one of those three.

I guess that is why Chairman Lee of Samsung has been convicted of bribery and was jailed almost 3-4 years? Why da heck would Korea restrict Apple in favor of Samsung considering many key components of iphones are Korean products (LG Innotek, LG Dislays, Samsung among many others)?

Stop living in conspiracy theories. Apple did not abide by the local laws and refused to comply. They deserve to be punished. I am typing this on iPhone so I shouldn’t be associated with Samsung fanboys.

 

[Apple fan from Korea]

Apple is to again be investigated by South Korea's telecommunications regulator, alongside Google and One Store, over suspected violations of in-app payment rules.

In a statement (via Reuters), the Korea Communications Commissions (KCC) said that it conducted an inspection of Apple, Google, and One Store since May 17 to determine if they have violated in-app payment laws, and concluded that all three companies may have done so. Such contraventions could include 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.

If the new probe discovers malpractice, the KCC may issue correction orders and impose fines up to as high as two percent of the average annual revenue from relevant business practices, but there is as yet little detail on the specific violations of the law the regulator suspects may have occurred.

In January, Apple announced that it would comply with a new South Korean law that bans app store operators from requiring developers to use their own in-app purchase systems. In late June, the change came into effect, enabling developers to offer alternative payment systems in South Korea.

It is unclear exactly why Apple is under investigation, given that it now allows developers to offer third-party payment systems on the South Korean App Store. One explanation could be that the KCC deems Apple to have taken too long to comply with the change in the law, since it came into effect in March, but Apple only began informing developers that they could use third-party payment systems in late June.

Article Link: Apple's App Store Practices Again to Be Investigated in South Korea, Despite Change to Allow Third-Party Payment Systems

I’m learning this on Macrumors. This issue never seems to get coverage on Korean media

 

[IamTimCook]

I guess that is why Chairman Lee of Samsung has been convicted of bribery and was jailed almost 3-4 years? Why da heck would Korea restrict Apple in favor of Samsung considering many key components of iphones are Korean products (LG Innotek, LG Dislays, Samsung among many others)?

Stop living in conspiracy theories. Apple did not abide by the local laws and refused to comply. They deserve to be punished. I am typing this on iPhone so I shouldn’t be associated with Samsung fanboys.

And then he was paroled fairly quickly lol, which is a big controversy over there with the public understanding they can’t win.

Of course someone has to get convicted for such a obvious crime, but with the big three it’s just for show….

Stop be so naïve. 😉

Direct quote from the article below:

Before he resumes work (context: his exact same position at Samsung), however, Lee must gain separate justice ministry approval, though the decision is expected to be a formality.

Thinner and contrite, Samsung's leader walks out of jail on parole

Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee, convicted of bribery and embezzlement, walked out of prison on parole on Friday, with South Korea's president calling on the public for understanding over his controversial release.

www.reuters.com

 

[CarlJ]

Something like this is sketchy, if not outright fraud.

I’m getting the impression you don’t actually know what that word means. It most decidedly does not mean, “something I don’t like”.

 

[_Spinn_]

So Apple try’s to comply with the law and they still get slammed with this?

 

[syklee26]

And then he was paroled fairly quickly lol, which is a big controversy over there with the public understanding they can’t win.

Of course someone has to get convicted for such a obvious crime, but with the big three it’s just for show….

Stop be so naïve. 😉

Direct quote from the article below:

Before he resumes work (context: his exact same position at Samsung), however, Lee must gain separate justice ministry approval, though the decision is expected to be a formality.

Thinner and contrite, Samsung's leader walks out of jail on parole

Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee, convicted of bribery and embezzlement, walked out of prison on parole on Friday, with South Korea's president calling on the public for understanding over his controversial release.

www.reuters.com

He might be paroled but he is prohibited from serving any roles within Samsung until his term expires.

There is controversy among many legal experts whether whatever he provided to the former President Park and her confidant was actually “bribe” or something he was forced into providing. This is why his trial took a long time. Korea is not some third world country; it has properly working judicial system.

And decision is expected to be formality? That’s why it has been dragging for years?

Dude, I live in Korea and I get to see news much close up (and in native language). I think I would be able to follow on this news a bit more closely than you do…

 

[svish]

Legal troubles are never ending for Apple. Wonder what issues will now pop up.