Apple’s revised compliance plan for the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has sparked criticism from major companies like Spotify and Epic Games. The tech giant’s new policy includes loosened restrictions but also introduces two new fees, leading to backlash from industry players.
Spotify, a popular music streaming service, expressed its dissatisfaction with Apple’s updated plan, calling it „unacceptable“ and accusing Apple of disregarding the fundamental requirements of the DMA. The company highlighted the addition of new fees and the lack of clarity in the policy as major concerns.
Epic Games, the creator of the popular game Fortnite, also criticized Apple’s revisions, labeling them as „malicious compliance“ involving „junk fees.“ CEO Tim Sweeney voiced his disapproval of the new 15% fee imposed on users migrating to competing app stores, describing it as illegal and harmful to competition in the app store market.
The European Commission had previously found Apple’s initial DMA compliance efforts lacking and was investigating the new fee structure proposed by the tech giant. The introduction of a Core Technology Fee, which developers had to pay for using Apple’s technology to build mobile apps, raised red flags and prompted further scrutiny.
Under Apple’s new policy, developers are no longer required to accept the DMA rules to link out to their websites from their iOS apps. However, they are still subject to new fees, including an Initial Acquisition Fee and a Store Services Fee. These fees are intended to cover Apple’s App Store operations and are charged on a fixed basis over a 12-month period.
The changes introduced by Apple have caused confusion among developers and companies like Spotify, who are still trying to understand the implications of the new policy. Spotify criticized the fees imposed by Apple, particularly the 25% fee for basic communication with users, which they believe violates the DMA’s guidelines.
Epic Games echoed Spotify’s concerns, emphasizing the negative impact of Apple’s new fees on app store competition in the EU. Tim Sweeney called out Apple for its „malicious compliance“ and urged the European Commission to take action against these unlawful practices.
As the EU evaluates Apple’s proposed changes, the tech industry awaits a decision on whether the revised compliance plan will be accepted. The ongoing debate highlights the challenges of regulating app stores and ensuring fair competition in the digital marketplace.