Apple Faces EU Scrutiny Over App Store Changes
Apple’s proposed changes to its app store regulations have garnered significant attention as the European Commission evaluates compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The iPhone developer reportedly believes these changes will suffice for meeting regulatory requirements, reports 24brussels.
The European Commission has dispatched Requests for Information (RFIs) to app developers, aiming to collect feedback on Apple’s revisions to its app store rules. The respondents, including prominent developers like Spotify and Meta, have until Monday to express their views on the newly proposed terms.
There is no definitive timeline for the EU’s ruling on Apple’s compliance. Nevertheless, the Commission has warned that companies found to violate the law could face retroactive fines for inadequate compliance proposals. This situation marks an unprecedented opportunity for the Commission to seek market-based feedback in a DMA non-compliance scenario.
Developers such as Epic Games and Spotify have long criticized Apple for its restrictions, which prevent them from directing users to alternative offers and payment options that could bypass the high fees historically imposed on in-store transactions.
In June, Apple presented a proposal featuring tiered terms for developers, which received backlash as some characterized it as a “draconian, bureaucratic nightmare.” Critics argue it would create a two-tier system wherein some apps would benefit from lower fees, while user experience would suffer.
“Using these apps will be an intentionally miserable experience for users and a commercial failure for developers,” stated Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games and a frequent critic of Apple, in a post on X following the publication of the proposals.
A Spotify representative expressed concerns that the proposed terms would hinder the rollout of the latest version of its app. The representative highlighted a contrasting situation in the United States, where a court ruling mandated Apple to eliminate all anti-steering provisions from its contracts.
