EU: Apple delays tackling in-app purchase issues

The European Commission expresses its disappointment at the lack of commitments from Apple to tackle the problems surrounding in-app purchases. Google has already promised to implement a number of measures by the end of September.

Not only is Apple not making clear commitments to tackle the problems, it also lacks a concrete timetable for possible measures, the European Commission sighs in a statement. “Although Apple has proposed to address the issues, unfortunately the company has so far not taken concrete and immediate action to address issues related to payment authorization in particular,” the committee writes.

At the same time, the EU is naming the measures that Google has promised. For example, the company behind the Play Store will prevent developers from continuing to use the word “free” with games that contain in-app purchases, and there will also be guidelines to prevent children from being encouraged to make in-app purchases. Furthermore, the default settings have already been adjusted in such a way that Android users must explicitly agree to in-app purchases.

By the end of September, Google will have implemented all measures. In doing so, the group is meeting the wishes that the EU indicated to Apple, Google and the Interactive Software Federation of Europe at the end of 2013. “In-app purchases are a legitimate business model, but app makers must respect European Union law when developing these new business models,” said Vice-President Neelie Kroes, responsible for the Digital Agenda.