October 30, 2024
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Request for Public Comments on the Draft Cabinet Order Specifying Business Scale under Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Mobile Software Competition Act, etc.
Today, I would like to explain the Request for Public Comments on the Draft Cabinet Order Specifying Business Scale under Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Mobile Software Competition Act, etc.
The Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software, commonly known as the Mobile Software Competition Act (the Act), was promulgated on June 19 this year. Six months later, on December 19, the provision related to the designation of providers subject to the Act will come into effect in advance of full implementation, which is scheduled for completion by December next year, including the provisions regarding obligations for the designated providers, etc.
We have prepared draft versions of the Cabinet Order and Fair Trade Commission rules related to the provision on the designation of providers, which will be implemented on December 19. The drafts were published on October 28, and a request for public comments has been initiated.
The subjects of this public comment request are: (1) the draft Cabinet Order and (2) the draft Fair Trade Commission rules.
Regarding the designation of providers subject to the Act, it has been stipulated that providers “of a scale specified by Cabinet Order or larger” will be designated. The draft Cabinet Order sets a criterion of 40 million users for each specified software.
We will be accepting comments from relevant parties until November 26 and aim to finalize the Cabinet Order and rules based on the feedback received.
Since September of this year, the study group with experts has been convened to discuss the development of Cabinet Orders and Fair Trade Commission rules, etc. related to the Act. The JFTC will continue its preparations toward full implementation of the Act.
（Tentative translation）
