Apple changes for EU
Apple is making upcoming changes to comply with European Union (EU) Digital Markets Act (DMA) antitrust regulations affecting “core platform services” from “gatekeeper” companies across 27 countries as of March 6, 2024.
These changes include, for the first time, allowing alternative app stores and allowing alternative web browers that are not based on Apple’s own code. Apple has announced that it will start charging new fees to app developers in the EU in relation to the changes.
Here Are All the iPhone Changes Coming to EU Users by March 6
Apple is working towards a March 6 deadline to make the changes live for users who update to iOS 17.4. Below, we’ve summarized what will change for affected users and the reasons that Apple has offered for said changes, along with some related news.
- Alternative App Stores…
- Alternative Payment Options…
- App Store Notarization…
- Screen Time and Refund Limitations…
- NFC Third-Party Access…
- Default Browser Options…
- Hardware and Software Developer Access…
- Expanded Analytics Availability…
Apple’s new EU terms include a Core Technology Fee that some developers have warned could completely bankrupt freemium apps that go viral by charging them astronomical fees.
When Apple takes the European Commission for fools: An initial overview of Apple’s new terms and conditions for iOS app distribution in the EU
… These commissions are not fair and reasonable for the reasons described in the preceding paragraph. But they are also discriminatory. The reason is that app developers whose apps sell digital goods and services and those whose apps don’t, effectively use the same app store services, but are treated differently. Only the former pay a commission.
As mentioned elsewhere, it is hard to understand why Tinder will need to pay a 17% commission, while Uber pays zero percent. Widely successful apps such as Facebook, Amazon, etc. will pay no commission although they surely consume more App Store services than, for instance, a moderately successful news app. That makes no sense at all. |
