After the European Union forced Apple to open iOS to third-party app stores, other countries have ramped up their own antitrust investigations. Now, a Brazilian court has ruled that Apple must allow sideloading on iPhones in Brazil within 90 days, marking another significant legal challenge for the company.
As reported by Valor Econômico, a federal judge in Brazil ruled on Wednesday that Apple must follow the same path it did in the EU, allowing users to install third-party apps outside the App Store. The ruling states that Apple’s restrictions on developers create unfair barriers to competition.
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This decision builds on a previous ruling by Brazil’s antitrust regulator Cade in November 2024, which found that Apple could no longer block developers from distributing apps and selling content outside the App Store. At the time, Apple was given 20 days to comply or face daily fines of over $40,000.
Unsurprisingly, Apple appealed the decision, arguing that enforcing sideloading wasn’t urgent and that it would harm its business model. A judge temporarily suspended the ruling to allow further discussion, and Apple defended its closed ecosystem approach during a public hearing last month.
However, Judge Pablo Zuniga has now overruled Apple’s objections, stating that Apple has already complied with similar regulations in other regions—without demonstrating significant harm to its business. The ruling gives Apple 90 days to implement the required changes in Brazil.
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The case against Apple was triggered by Mercado Libre, a major Latin American e-commerce company, which accused Apple of forcing developers to use its in-app payment system for digital goods. Other companies, including Tinder owner Match Group and Epic Games, have also filed antitrust complaints against Apple in Brazil.
Apple, for its part, insists that it “believes in vibrant and competitive markets” and claims that it faces competition worldwide. However, the company maintains that allowing sideloading will compromise user privacy and security. Apple has already announced plans to appeal the ruling.
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If Apple fails to comply within 90 days, it could face steep fines and additional regulatory action in Brazil. Meanwhile, this decision could set a precedent for other countries, as regulators around the world push for greater openness in mobile app distribution.