Apple today announced new rules and a change to fees for apps, specifically those that offer external links to subscribe via sites. It’s a real mess, with Apple clearly trying to judge the limits of DMA in Europe. Meanwhile, Spotify and Epic Games are criticizing today’s announcements.
Spotify and Epic Games’ criticism of Apple
Spotify responded to TechCrunch :
We are currently assessing Apple’s deliberately confusing proposal. At first glance, by charging up to 25% for basic communication with users, Apple is once again blatantly ignoring the fundamental requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The European Commission has made it clear that it is unacceptable to impose recurring fees for basic elements such as pricing and links. We call on the Commission to expedite its investigation, apply daily fines and enforce the Digital Markets Act.
On the Epic Games side, it was the director Tim Sweeney who spoke on X (ex-Twitter) :
In the European Union, where the new DMA law opens up competition between app stores, Apple continues its malicious compliance by imposing a new illegal 15% tax on users who migrate to competing stores and by monitoring commerce on those competing stores.
Apple’s terms make it completely unprofitable for developers to distribute their apps on both Apple’s App Store and competing iOS app stores, depriving newcomers to the app store market of any chance to compete and grow organically on more favorable terms.
Of course, Apple has long since banned Fortnite from the Apple App Store. We remain on track to launch the Epic Games Store on iOS in the European Union soon. If necessary, on our own.
As a reminder, the European Commission tackled Apple in June regarding its practices. As previously stated, the iPhone maker is clearly looking to test the limits to put spokes in the wheels regarding applications distributed outside the App Store.
