Google and Apple app store policies threatened by another new bill

Just a few weeks ago, we heard about the bill that the U.S senate presented known as the Open Apps Market Act that, if passed, would cause significant changes in the app store policies for Google and Apple. Now, South Korea is also voting on a similar bill to put an end to the 30% cut taken from in-app purchases.

Both Google and Apple may see big changes coming to their in-app developer payment systems for teams in South Korea. The country’s legislators will be voting and giving their final verdict today. This new bill, similar to the one posed in the U.S, will seek to stop the tech giants from forcing developers to obey the exorbitant in-app purchase policies.

This newest legislation is an amendment to the ‘Anti-Google law’, more officially known as the Telecommunications Business Act. If this act is approved today, it will affect one of Google’s largest revenue streams. This bill will ban Google from taking a 30% cut from in-app purchases and give developers the freedom to use other payment systems outside of Google and Apple.

Currently, the app developers who wish to have their apps included in either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store are required to use these companies' in-app payment systems for digital transactions. This draconian nature has sparked many criticisms, as is evident by an Open Apps Market Act proposed in the U.S.

Last year, Australia also launched an investigation into the app market. This investigation covers both Google and Apple’s app stores. These different moves all indicate that countries are becoming involved in the fight for more even footing and freedom for app developers within the market.

Closing words

This latest development in South Korea, which follows similar moves in both the U.S and Australia, points to some big changes in the app store policies. It will be interesting to see if these changes will affect other aspects of the app stores. However, one thing is for sure: giving app developers more freedom is the right thing to do.

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