Photo: Cult of Mac
Spotify and Epic Games have criticized Apple for its latest App Store fee and external linking changes in the EU. They claim Apple has again disregarded the “fundamental requirements” of the Digital Markets Act.
On August 8, 2024, Apple announced new EU App Store policies to comply with the Digital Markets Act. This follows the European Commission’s June ruling that Apple violated the act’s steering rules.
Epic Games CEO criticizes Apple for imposing a 15% ‘junk fee’ on users
As a part of the changes, Apple is making it easier for developers to link to external websites or alternative app stores for purchase options and offers. Users can access these links through an in-app browser or outside the app. Developers are also free to add as many external links within their apps as required. These links can include redirects and other parameters but cannot profile users. The new changes come into effect in fall 2024.
Despite the lowered fees and other changes, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney called out Apple on X for “malicious compliance.” He says the company is imposing a “15% junk fee” on users who want to migrate to a third-party app store.
In the European Union where the new DMA law opens up app store competition, Apple continues its malicious compliance by imposing an illegal new 15% junk fee on users migrating to competing stores and monitor commerce on these competing stores.https://t.co/YUYwsnrh32 pic.twitter.com/xAWGkOWPrH
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) August 8, 2024
Spotify says Apple’s EU App Store changes don’t comply with the DMA
Spotify has also issued a statement and called out Apple’s confusing new App Store changes in the EU. Below is Spotify’s statement in full to TechCrunch:
“We are currently assessing Apple’s deliberately confusing proposal. At first glance, by demanding as much as a 25% fee for basic communication with users, Apple once again blatantly disregards the fundamental requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The European Commission has made it clear that imposing recurring fees on basic elements like pricing and linking is unacceptable. We call on the Commission to expedite its investigation, implement daily fines and enforce the DMA.”
Spotify and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney have been among the most vocal critics of Apple’s App Store. The two parties have regularly called out Apple for its monopolistic policies and are engaged in multiple legal battles against it. Only time will tell if the European Commission will accept Apple’s new changes.