Apple has recently revealed substantial alterations to its App Store policies for developers within the European Union, intending to align with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These modifications emphasize how applications can interact and promote alternative payment solutions. Nonetheless, the feedback from industry figures, most notably Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, has been adverse.
Sweeney termed Apple’s new DMA alterations as “evidently illegal” in both Europe and the United States, denouncing it as a “malicious compliance scheme” that jeopardizes fair competition. He contended that developers selecting alternative payment options encounter not just financial repercussions but also significant restrictions within the App Store framework.
In his remarks on social media, Sweeney underscored that the new regulations effectively impose a tax on developers and obstruct their business potential. His statements came after Apple’s announcement of a thorough array of adjustments to its App Store guidelines, which encompass the formation of a new Core Technology Commission (CTC), revised rules for apps that wish to link to or advertise external offers, and a tiered model for Store Services Fees.
These modifications arise amid persistent legal and regulatory challenges for Apple. The company is contesting a recent injunction that forbids it from taking a cut of transactions conducted outside the U.S. App Store, asserting that the ruling disrupts already established legal frameworks from the Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc. case.
As Apple maneuvers through these challenges from both the legal system and regulatory authorities in Europe, the success of its recent updates in meeting EU regulators’ expectations remains ambiguous. In the meantime, Epic Games continues to express its discontent with Apple’s methodology, highlighting the persistent friction between the two entities.
