EU Plans to Fine Apple for Anticompetitive App Store Practices

The European Commission plans to fine Apple for not adequately complying with Digital Markets Act (DMA) requirements for the App Store, reports Bloomberg. Regulators apparently believe that Apple did not implement changes that allowed developers to steer users to cheaper prices outside of the ‌App Store‌.

App Store vs EU Feature 2
Back in June, the EU said that Apple was in breach of the DMA due to its anti-steering rules. The European Commission said that developers should be able to inform their customers of alternative purchasing options, steer them to offers, and allow them to make purchases outside of the ‌App Store‌.

In August, Apple again changed its App Store rules in Europe to satisfy regulators. Apple began allowing EU developers to communicate and promote offers that would direct customers outside of the ‌App Store‌, and it marked a significant loosening of Apple's prior rules. Developers are able to communicate discounts and deals without opting into Apple's new developer terms or paying the Core Technology Fee, but Apple is requiring developers to report external purchase transactions and pay an initial acquisition fee and a store services fee.

It is not clear when the European Commission will announce the fine, but it could happen before current competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager leaves the position later this month. It could also be pushed back to later in the year, though.

Exactly how much Apple will have to pay is unknown at this time, but earlier this year, the EU fined Apple $2 billion for anticompetitive behavior against third-party music services. Under the DMA, the European Union can fine Apple up to 10 percent of its global annual sales.

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Top Rated Comments

sputnikv Avatar
13 months ago
if anti-competitiveness is a problem, they should fine european companies for failing to be competitive
Score: 48 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThisIsMike Avatar
13 months ago
This is beyond ridiculous at this point. I normally wouldn't be one to jump to "Apple should just stop doing business in the EU," but I almost want them to do it and call their bluff - see how folks like it when all their devices are no longer supported and you can't buy any new tech. Watch how quickly folks would turn against the morons litigating this. I know it's not realistic, but if I were Apple I'd find this infuriating.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WilliApple Avatar
13 months ago
I dont want 50 million app stores that will just complicate things.
I want 1 unified App Store to get all of my apps.
I almost want Apple, Samsung and Google to unify and pull OUT of the EU and see what happens after that.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icanhazmac Avatar
13 months ago

Judging by the comments, it seems most here are shareholders for AAPL stocks?
Really? Is that all you have?

Could be that some just like the ecosystem they willingly bought into and don't want it dismantled by brainless bureaucrats out for their own gains.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icerabbit Avatar
13 months ago
The whole EU anti-apple thing is getting to be exhausting ... and laughable.

Name one hardware manufacturer whether computers, vehicles, smart devices, smart tvs, smart appliances, etc that is FORCED to open up their operating system, to allow different app stores, alternative sale methods, ...

I don't see VW AUDI BMW Mercedes etc ... or Samsung, Sony, Philips, etc ... forced to allow me to use a different app store, different payment systems, ...

Every manufacturer does R&D, tries to get ahead, tries to keep things secure ... and not a single system or platform is OPEN ... but when it is Apple, arguably the more secure and privacy oriented among the leading three ... it is a problem. Sigh.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
swiftapplefan Avatar
13 months ago
Again? Why don't they move on to more important things, like the anticompetitiveness of the Apple Pencil?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)