Coalition Calls for EU Crackdown on Apple Fee Practices
A coalition of 20 app developers and consumer groups called upon European regulators on Tuesday to enforce EU laws against Apple, stating that the company’s fee structure unfairly disadvantages European developers compared to their U.S. rivals following a recent court decision in the United States.
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), implemented in 2023, mandates that large tech platforms labelled gatekeepers, such as Apple, facilitate in-app transactions outside their ecosystem at no charge.
The coalition’s appeal reflects concerns over a growing disparity following a U.S. court ruling that restricts Apple’s ability to impose fees on external transactions. While U.S. developers have seen relief, the coalition argues that European firms remain trapped in a costly system.
Earlier this year, the European Commission fined Apple 500 million euros (RM2.4 billion) for breaching the DMA by obstructing developers from guiding users to alternative payment methods.
In response to the EU ruling, Apple revised its terms to impose fees ranging from 13% for smaller businesses to up to 20% for App Store purchases, alongside additional charges of 5% to 15% on external transactions.
The Coalition for Apps Fairness (CAF), representing firms such as Deezer and Proton, argues these revised fees still violate DMA stipulations. They contend that U.S. developers now benefit from more favourable terms after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision limited Apple’s ability to collect fees on outside transactions in the American market.
In a statement, the group described the current state of affairs as unsustainable and harmful to the broader application market, accusing Apple of hindering transparency and innovation.
Gene Burrus, Global Policy Counsel for CAF, pointed out that developers in the EU are forced to either absorb these fees or pass them on to customers, which he argued is detrimental to both European enterprises and consumers.
According to CAF, European developers remain disadvantaged six months after the Commission declared Apple’s policies illegal under the DMA. Although Apple has announced further policy changes to take effect in January 2026, it has yet to specify what these revisions will entail, fueling dissatisfaction among developers over the lack of clarity.
Burrus urged the Commission to enforce the legislation strictly, insisting that the mandate for transactions to be free of charge must be applied literally. He added that European authorities should consider referring the issue to the European Court of Justice if necessary.
