Chinese App Developers File Antitrust Complaint Against Apple
August 10 2017 - 3:10AM
Dow Jones News
By Alyssa Abkowitz
BEIJING--A group of 28 Chinese app developers filed a complaint
against Apple Inc. alleging antitrust violations over the company's
App Store.
The complaint accuses Apple of engaging in monopolistic behavior
by removing apps from the App Store without detailed explanation
and charging excessive fees for in-app purchases. The complaint
also alleges Apple doesn't give details on why apps are removed and
puts local developers at a disadvantage by not responding to
queries in Chinese.
Lin Wei, an attorney at Beijing Dare & Sure law firm, said
he filed the complaint on behalf of the developers Tuesday with the
National Development and Reform Commission, which handles antitrust
issues in China, and the State Administration for Industry &
Commerce.
"There is a lack of transparency in the App Store operation,"
Mr. Lin said. "At this stage, we think complaining to the Chinese
regulators to get them involved is most ideal."
The government agencies didn't respond to requests to confirm
the filing of the complaint or if they would review the
allegations.
In a statement, Apple said that "most submissions in China are
reviewed and approved to be on the store within 48 hours, or less."
It added that its App Store guidelines apply equally to all
developers in every country and that if an app is rejected or
removed, developers may request a review to restore the app in a
timely manner.
The complaint comes as Apple's challenges are multiplying in
China as the government ramps up its scrutiny of online content and
services. Last month, Apple removed virtual private network apps,
or VPNs, from its Chinese App Store that allowed users to
circumvent internet filters; the company said it did so to comply
with new government rules, though some users criticized Apple for
abetting censorship.
Apple has also announced plans to open a data center operated by
a government-backed company to store user data locally, as required
under new regulations intended to enhance cybersecurity.
Write to Alyssa Abkowitz at alyssa.abkowitz@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 10, 2017 02:55 ET (06:55 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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