Japan takes page from EU playbook with app store antitrust bill

Legislation targeting Apple and Google pivots toward upfront regulation

20240416N Apple Google

Japan's proposed antitrust legislation would force Apple and Google to allow third-party app marketplaces on their mobile platforms. (Source photos by Kazuyuki Okudaira)

RIHO NAGAO and RYOHEI YASOSHIMA, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO/WASHINGTON -- Japan's proposed legislation to rein in tech giants' control over mobile app marketplaces aims to establish a regulatory regime on par with Europe, with bans on specific behavior backed up by fines equivalent to 20% of sales or higher for noncompliance.

The bill drafted by the Japan Fair Trade Commission would be Japan's first ex-ante competition regulation -- legislation intended to prevent anticompetitive practices, rather than address them after the fact as the current Antimonopoly Law does -- based on the full text seen by Nikkei.

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