Apple Expands Third-Party App Store Access to Brazil

Apple is gearing up to permit third-party app stores on iOS in Brazil next year, following a settlement with the country’s competition authority that stems from a legal dispute that began in 2022. A recent press release from Brazil’s CADE confirms that Apple has agreed to a Term of Commitment to Termination (TCC), which mandates the company to allow third-party app stores and enable developers to utilize external payment systems. Additionally, any warnings regarding these third-party stores and payment options must be presented in neutral language.

While Apple will still be able to impose fees, a translation from Tecnoblog outlines the fee structure as follows:

– **In-App Purchases within the App Store:**
– 25% commission (general) or 10% (for special programs)
– 5% fee for using Apple’s payment system

– **App Purchases on the App Store, but routed outside the store:**
– No fee if the routing involves static text (no clickable link/button)
– 15% fee if the app owner includes a button/link directing to payment on their own website (outside the app environment)

– **Alternative Stores:**
– 5% of Core Technology Commission

Apple has previously expressed concerns that opening iOS could jeopardize the platform’s security. However, regulatory pressures in other regions have already compelled the company to allow users in Europe and Japan to install third-party app stores, and in the US, Apple permits external payment links.

The company has 105 days to implement these changes, and failure to comply could result in a fine of up to R$150 million (approximately $27 million). In response to the decision, Apple stated that while these regulatory changes will introduce new privacy and security risks for users, they are committed to maintaining protections against various threats, particularly for younger users. The company emphasized that while these safeguards won’t eliminate all risks, they aim to ensure that iOS remains the most secure mobile platform in Brazil, continuing to advocate for both users and developers.