A recent court ruling in the United States has prompted protests from European app developers. The 9th Circuit Court ordered Apple to cease charging developers for payments made outside the App Store. European developers are now calling on the EU to take similar action, arguing that this situation creates an unfair advantage for US-based developers.
This ruling contradicts EU regulations, which require Apple, as a “gatekeeper,” to allow developers to charge customers outside the App Store without incurring fees. However, Apple’s response has not aligned with this requirement. After receiving a €500 million fine, the company introduced a new two-tier system for App Store service fees, which includes a commission of 5% or more on payments made outside the Store. Previously, Apple prohibited developers from even advertising this option. In contrast, following the court ruling, Apple is not permitted to charge such a commission in the US.
A Coalition for App Fairness (CAF) has been established, including prominent members like Epic and Spotify, who have engaged in legal disputes with Apple over its App Store policies. Gene Burrus, Global Policy Counsel for CAF, stated that the current situation is detrimental to both European companies and consumers. He noted that EU developers either absorb the additional costs or pass them on to consumers.
European developers also express concerns regarding upcoming policy changes from Apple, which are set to be announced in 2026. However, details about these changes remain unclear as the new year approaches.
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