(Bloomberg) — Brazilian antitrust regulator Cade has reportedly opened an investigation into Apple Inc. for alleged abuse of a dominant position.
The agency said in a statement that Cade launched the investigation on Jan. 12 following a complaint filed by Latin American e-commerce and fintech giant MercadoLibre. The statement said the complaint is another in a series of antitrust cases around the world, including the U.S., the European Union, the U.K., South Korea, Japan, India and Indonesia.
Apple has not yet commented.
Apple is based in Cupertino, Calif. The company typically requires developers to use Apple’s own payment system, which helps ensure that Apple receives commissions from apps downloaded on its platform. Such strict controls have sparked lawsuits and antitrust scrutiny, which typically focus on Apple’s refusal to let developers direct users to other payment methods.
Last December, MercadoLibre filed lawsuits in Brazil and Mexico, its two largest markets, alleging that Apple violated anticompetitive practices by prohibiting third parties from distributing digital products on iOS apps, leading to higher prices.
The investigation in Brazil could take up to two and a half years to resolve.
