Control Structure Maintained Amid Regulatory Compliance
Apple has formalized structural changes to iOS operating methods in the Japanese market. Apple announced on December 17 that it is introducing new options to iOS to respond to Japan's Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA). This measure carries significance as a direct institutional response to the Japanese government's competition-promoting regulation.
The changed policy applies from iOS 26.2. Accordingly, iOS developers in Japan can distribute apps through routes other than Apple's App Store, and it also becomes possible to operate their own alternative app markets. Also, payment for digital goods and services will be permitted to use external payment methods without going through Apple's in-app payment system. This is an instance where Apple has acknowledged exceptions to the closed distribution and payment structure it had maintained.
However, Apple made clear that this measure is a regional response limited to the Japanese market. It explicitly drew the line that it should not be interpreted as a global iOS policy transition or comprehensive opening. That is, Japan is positioned as a 'special case' where a separate operating model is applied according to the regulatory environment.
The axis Apple particularly emphasized in this announcement is security and minor protection. Apple explicitly mentioned that introducing alternative app markets and external payments could expand new risks such as malware distribution, fraud, and personal information invasion. Accordingly, Apple explained it has introduced additional protection mechanisms in cooperation with Japanese regulatory authorities.
A representative measure is the App Notarization system. Even apps distributed through alternative routes must go through Apple's notarization procedure, thereby maintaining basic security verification. Also, developers wishing to operate alternative app markets must pass separate approval procedures, and strengthened protection requirements to prevent content and payment damage targeting minors are also applied. Apple particularly emphasized youth user protection as a premise of this policy change.
Developers are also given new obligations along with choice. Apple stated that developers wishing to utilize the distribution and payment options newly permitted in Japan must agree to the revised Apple Developer Program License Agreement. Existing developers are no exception. Apple explicitly stated that all developer program members must agree to the new terms by March 17, 2026, and that failure to comply may affect not only new options in Japan but also existing developer qualifications. This demonstrates that this measure is an institutional overhaul including contracts and accountability structures, not merely a simple feature addition.
In summary, this change is closer to 'conditional opening' than a comprehensive opening of the iOS ecosystem. Apple has expanded the options for distribution routes and payment methods, but has maintained a structure where security verification standards and platform accountability structures are still controlled by Apple. The existing principle that competition is permitted but the conditions under which that competition operates are set by Apple has not changed.
With this measure, iOS in Japan is entering an exceptional ecosystem where alternative app markets and external payments coexist. Whether this model will spread to other countries going forward or remain as a case of regulatory response limited to Japan is expected to be determined by each country's legislative direction and market response. However, what is clear is the fact that Apple has entered a phase where it is no longer able to operate iOS with a single global rule alone.
