Brazil: Administrative Council for Economic Defence upheld preventive order against Apple over abuse of dominance in iOS application distribution

On 14 May 2025, Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE) rejected a voluntary appeal filed by Apple and upheld a preventive measure requiring the company to cease potentially anticompetitive practices related to the distribution of applications on the iOS platform. The measure targets Apple’s imposition of a 30% commission on in-app payments and its restrictions on the use of alternative payment systems. These practices are alleged to constitute an unlawful tying arrangement that increases costs for developers and restricts consumer choice. The ruling applies to Apple’s conduct affecting developers of digital goods and services applications. Non-compliance may result in a daily fine of BRL 250'000. Apple has 90 days from the date of the decision to comply with the order.