Brussels: Apple violates new EU competition law
Apple prevents apps from referring to cheaper purchase options, the Commission complains. The controversial core technology fee also comes under scrutiny.
(Image: tre / Mac & i)
The EU Commission assumes that Apple is violating the new rules of the Digital Markets Act: Apple's requirements for app providers are not compliant with the rules, according to the "preliminary findings" published by the regulators on Monday. According to the Commission, app providers and developers can still not freely refer their customers to other sales channels, as the Digital Markets Act actually stipulates.
Brussels is therefore specifically bothered by Apple's long-standing "anti-steering rules": Apps are only allowed to refer to external purchase options or subscription options, for example, to an extremely limited extent. In addition, Apple interposes warnings when linking to a website.
Apple's terms and conditions thus prevent developers from freely referring their customers to other offers outside the App Store, the EU Commission complains. However, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager emphasized that this is the key to enabling providers to reduce their dependence on the gatekeepers' app stores.
Apple's commission under fire
The Commission is also bothered by the fact that Apple continues to charge a commission of up to 27 percent for purchases made from an app on the web. Apple's fees "far exceed" what is actually appropriate for such remuneration.
Apple now has time to respond to the allegations and make adjustments. A decision on Apple's compliance with the Digital Markets Act in this regard is to follow by spring 2025 at the latest. In a statement on Monday, the company once again expressed its confidence "that our plan complies with the law". Apple sees its commission on web purchases as compensation for investments in interfaces and developer tools.
New investigation: Core Technology Fee and cumbersome sideloading
At the same time, the Commission announced the opening of a further non-compliance investigation against Apple on Monday: Here, as expected for some time, Apple's new fee model - the controversial Core Technology Fee - is now the focus of the regulators, as well as its concrete implementation.
The central questions are whether the installation of alternative app stores is too cumbersome for users, and whether the hurdles for app developers to sideload remain too high. Apple requires, for example, that the app provider has a "good reputation" with the company and is already selling a very popular app in the App Store. It was also recently announced that Apple is blocking the distribution of virtualization tools outside its App Store.
(lbe)