A coalition of European app developers and consumer groups has urged the EU to compel Apple to comply with digital market legislation. The main argument lies in the unequal conditions for European companies compared to their American competitors.
Developers, including Deezer and Proton, claim that disadvantageous fees and Apple’s restrictions put them in a difficult position. The European coalition, known as the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), points to the EU’s 2023 digital markets act, which requires tech giants to allow transactions outside their ecosystems without additional fees. However, after a fine of 500 million euros, Apple implemented new rules that entail a commission of 13% to 20% for purchases in the App Store and an additional fee of 5% to 15% for external transactions.
CAF representative Jean Barrus notes that American developers received more favorable conditions following a court ruling in the U.S., while European companies face high commissions that could negatively impact the European app economy. Developers are forced to either cover these costs themselves or pass them onto customers, which is unfavorable for end consumers.
If the situation does not change, CAF is ready to take the issue to the European Court. Despite Apple’s promises to introduce new changes in January 2025, details remain unknown. Previously, the company achieved a legal victory in an antitrust case running since 2011 regarding the monopolization of the iPhone app ecosystem.
| Apple commission on App Store purchases | 13% – 20% |
| Additional fee for external transactions | 5% – 15% |
