CAF Launches Activities in Japan, Promoting Fairness in the App Distribution Ecosystem

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The Coalition for App Fairness (CAF) has commenced its activities in Japan. It aims to foster a fair and transparent competitive environment between app developers and platform operators, addressing issues like app store fees and monopolistic practices.

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The Coalition for App Fairness (CAF) has commenced its activities in Japan. It aims to foster a fair and transparent competitive environment between app developers and platform operators, addressing issues like app store fees and monopolistic practices.

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Source: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000001.000183055.html | Date: Date unavailable

The Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), an organization dedicated to achieving fairness in the app distribution ecosystem, announced today the launch of its activities in Japan. In the Japanese market, CAF aims to address challenges in the competitive environment surrounding app distribution and payment methods, striving to create a more equitable and transparent competitive landscape between platform operators and app developers. CAF's initiatives are based on the belief that all app developers should be able to compete on fair terms, and all consumers should have greater freedom of choice regarding their devices and services. Major global online platforms and the app stores that manage access to them have become crucial mechanisms for distributing digital products and services. However, depending on how they are operated, structural issues can arise that affect developers and consumers. In the current app market, some platform operators wield significant influence over app distribution and payment methods. There are cases where developers are required to use specific payment systems, and a commission (the so-called "app tax") of up to approximately 30% is levied on transactions. Such mechanisms can impact developers' revenue and opportunities for new entrants, and it is pointed out that they can also lead to restrictions on consumer choice. In Japan, the "Act on Promotion of Competition for Specific Software Used in Smartphones" (Smartphone Software Competition Promotion Act) was fully enforced on December 18 last year. In February this year, seven organizations, including the Mobile Content Forum, issued a joint statement calling for international equal footing and the realization of a free and fair market, indicating that industry-wide discussions are progressing. Furthermore, the Japan Fair Trade Commission is collecting information and opinions regarding compliance reports, as well as information on suspected violations. Regarding the launch of activities in Jap

CAF Launches Activities in Japan, Promoting Fairness in the App Distribution Ecosystem

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