A spokesperson for the European Commission welcomed the changes to the App Store rules that Apple announced yesterday, reports the Irish Independent.

On August 18, Apple announced changes to its business terms for apps in the European Union, following close collaboration with the European Commission. In a press release, the company says “these changes resolve Apple’s disagreements with the Commission over business terms and alternative distribution,” and that they “also reduce complexity by moving every developer that distributes apps in the EU to a single set of business terms.” Developers can sign the new terms today, and changes will go into effect on October 1.

“The Commission welcomes Apple’s changes to their business terms, which follow a close dialogue between the Commission and Apple after the Commission issued a non-compliance decision related to Apple’s steering terms as well as preliminary findings related to alternative app distribution, both in April 2025,” the European Commission spokesperson said. “Following today’s announcement, the Commission will monitor Apple’s effective implementation of the new terms. Under the DMA, users in the EU have a right to full and effective choice of alternative app distribution channels.”

But naturally the crybabies at Apple legal opponent Epic Games isn’t happy with the new fee structure, denouncing the “new junk fees.” ‌According to MacRumors, Epic Games‌ said Apple’s new terms do not comply with the Digital Markets Act and claimed if the EC accepts the terms, the DMA “will become meaningless.”

Apple announced new junk fees in the EU that do nothing to open up the mobile app ecosystem to competition, as required by Digital Market Act.

Apple will now charge:
• 20% fee on alternative in-app payment options
• 15% fee on links to make purchases outside apps
• 5% Core Technology Commission on payments made in apps downloaded from alternative stores or the web

The law makes it clear that Apple must allow developers to offer link outs to the web for purchases “free of charge” and has to allow “effective use” of competing stores. Apple’s terms deliberately violate the Digital Markets Act. If the Commission accepts the terms and drops their ongoing enforcement actions, the law will become meaningless and consumers and developers will not experience the benefits it was designed to provide.

I hope you’ll help support Apple World Today by becoming a patron. Almost all our income is from Patreon support and sponsored posts. Patreon pricing ranges from $2 to $10 a month. Thanks in advance for your support. 



Article provided with permission from AppleWorld.Today