Brazilian Judge Orders Apple to Enable App Sideloading Within 90 Days

A Brazilian judge has mandated that Apple must enable sideloading of apps within 90 days, a ruling that could significantly alter user interactions with the App Store ecosystem.

Apple Confronts New Regulation in Brazil

In a report by Valor Econômico, Apple has been mandated by Brazil to allow users to bypass the App Store and directly download apps within 90 days. This follows similar mandates in Europe and other regions, referenced by the Brazilian court. Judge Pablo Zuniga stated: “[Apple] has already complied with similar obligations in other countries without showing significant impact or irreparable harm to its business model.”

Antitrust Battle

At the end of last year, Brazilian antitrust regulator CADE required Apple to enable users to download apps and make purchases outside its App Store, threatening fines for non-compliance within 20 days. Apple appealed, claiming the changes were too difficult to implement in such a short timeframe. The court agreed, calling the injunction “disproportionate and unnecessary,” thereby granting Apple an extended deadline but requiring it to attend a public hearing in Brazil.

A Race Against Time for Apple

Following another appeal by CADE, the court has now ordered Apple to allow sideloading and third-party app stores within the next three months, under penalty of fines.

The Stakes of This Decision

These legal battles were initiated by Latin American e-commerce company Mercado Libre, which complained about developers being forced to pay hefty commissions through Apple’s App Store. Subsequently, other developers including Match and Epic Games joined the cause.

An Apple spokesperson told Valor Econômico that the company believes in “vibrant and competitive markets,” but warned that the changes “will harm the privacy and security” of iOS users. Apple plans to appeal the decision.