Post by : Badri Ariffin

A coalition of 20 app developers and consumer advocates in Europe is pressing regulators to take action against Apple, asserting that the tech giant's App Store fees continue to place European developers at a disadvantage compared to their counterparts in the U.S.

This initiative follows a recent U.S. court decision that limits Apple's authority to impose fees on external transactions, highlighting disparities in the developer landscape across the Atlantic.

Per the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), major tech firms like Apple—designated as “gatekeepers”—are required to enable in-app payments outside their ecosystem without additional fees. However, Apple's recent adjustments still impose fees ranging from 13% for smaller companies to 20% for App Store transactions, alongside extra charges of 5% to 15% for external payments.

The Coalition for Apps Fairness (CAF), which comprises firms including Deezer and Proton, argues that these practices remain inequitable under EU regulations. They emphasize that developers in Europe must either absorb these fees or pass them on to customers, which undermines their competitiveness.

Despite the European Commission's €500 million fine imposed on Apple for violating the DMA six months ago, developers contend that the new terms do not fully comply with the requirements, creating uncertainty ahead of anticipated policy changes in January.

Industry experts warn that this ambiguity stifles innovation and negatively impacts the overall app economy in Europe, as smaller developers face significant challenges competing with their U.S. colleagues under strict fee structures.

#Technology #Apple #Global Updates