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EU Developers Urge Commission to Rein In Apple App Store Fees After U.S. Court Limits External Commissions

They say Apple’s revised terms breach the DMA by charging for transactions outside the App Store.

Overview

  • A coalition of 20 app developers and consumer groups formally petitioned the European Commission this week to enforce the Digital Markets Act against Apple.
  • The group points to a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that rejected Apple’s 27% commission on web purchases, arguing U.S. developers now face fewer charges than their European counterparts.
  • The Commission fined Apple €500 million earlier this year for DMA violations related to steering, after which Apple introduced fees that developers say still total 13–20% in‑store plus 5–15% on external payments.
  • Apple has said additional policy changes will take effect in January 2026 but has not provided details, creating uncertainty for developers about costs and pricing.
  • Coalition leaders, including Gene Burrus of the Coalition for App Fairness, are urging regulators to mandate fee‑free external payments and consider a referral to the EU Court of Justice if necessary.