The Japanese parliament is debating a proposed law that will follow the EU's Digital Market Law and require Apple to open its App Store.
IT House reported on May 23 that the Japanese parliament was debating a proposed law, which would follow the EU's Digital Market Law and require Apple to open its App Store.
This new bill originally proposed in 2023 is currently under formal consideration by the Japanese Parliament. The Japan Times reported that the bill is expected to be passed by both houses of the Japanese Parliament.
The purpose of the Act is to promote competition and reduce application prices. It is reported that the Japanese government believes that Apple and Google occupy a dominant position in the mobile application market. They charge developers high fees, which will eventually be passed on to users.
However, it was previously reported that even if the bill was passed, the Japanese government would also decide which companies the bill would apply to. Although it is certain that Apple and Google must comply with the law, it is not expected that any Japanese companies will be added to the list.
According to IT House, the current session of Japan's parliament will end on June 23, 2024. If the bill is indeed passed by the Japanese House of Representatives and Senate, it will become law.
Unlike many countries, including the United States, the bill only needs to pass the two chambers of parliament to take effect, and does not need to be signed into law by the Prime Minister of Japan. Nevertheless, the law resulting from the Act is not expected to enter into force until 2025.
The bill originates from the competition assessment of mobile ecosystem conducted by the Digital Market Competition Committee of the Japanese Parliament (collectively referred to as the two houses of Parliament). Although Apple did not comment on the current debate in the Japanese Parliament, the company has previously defended its antitrust behavior in the assessment.
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