Image source: CADE Brazil
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Apple's antitrust case in Brazil briefly stalled as federal judge overturned regulator's ruling, calling it “disproportionate,” but appeals are expected.
In 2022, an antitrust complaint was filed against Apple with Brazil's regulator, the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Economica (CADE). Following an investigation, a ruling was filed regarding Apple's payment and anti-steering practices, and it echoes complaints filed in the United States.
Hours after Apple released a statement on the ruling, a federal judge in the Federal District overturned the ruling. The news came in a report from Valor Economico shared by 9to5Mac.
Judge Eduardo Santos da Rocha Penteado of the 14th Federal Civil Court said CADE's ruling was “disproportionate” and “unnecessary.” While the ruling was overturned, Apple is not out of the weeds just yet.
Antitrust regulators will undoubtedly appeal and refile the complaint with less stringent deadlines. The original ruling said Apple had 20 days to allow external payment options and eliminate anti-steering practices or face large fines.
The judge who overturned the ruling agreed that something should be done, but the lack of competition and the difficulty of enforcing the ruling do not require such a quick deadline.
Apple has already made changes to the App Store payment systems and anti-steering practices in the US and EU, so it will likely take a similar approach in Brazil. Although, of course, it will not do so without first fighting a lawsuit.
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