Security News > 2024 > January > What Do Apple’s EU App Store Changes Mean for App Developers?

In order to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act, Apple announced on Jan. 25 changes to its payment system for app sellers in the EU, and that it was letting go of the hold its App Store has over iOS app distribution in the EU. As well as the App Store changes, Apple will prompt iOS users in the EU to select a preferred browser instead of defaulting to Safari in accordance with the DMA. These changes will come with iOS 17.4 in the EU in March.

In response, Apple built new options for iOS, Safari on iOS, the App Store and developer app analytics.

Fees for iOS apps on the App Store in the EU will be 10 percent for most developers or 17 percent for digital goods and services.

iOS app developers can use the App Store's payment processing in the EU for an additional 3 percent fee within the App Store.

"They are forcing developers to choose between App Store exclusivity and the store terms, which will be illegal under DMA, or accept a new also-illegal anticompetitive scheme rife with new Junk Fees on downloads and new Apple taxes on payments they don't process."

Spotify called Apple's new policies "a complete and total farce," citing new fees for app developers distributing apps on iOS, "Rent" in the App Store and the new Core Technology Fee.

News URL

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/apple-dma-app-store-changes-app-developers/