EU developers press Brussels to act on Apple App Store fees after U.S. court ruling

A group of European app developers and consumer organizations has urged EU regulators to step up enforcement action against Apple, arguing that the company’s revised App Store fee structure continues to disadvantage developers in Europe compared with their U.S. counterparts, Reuters reported.

The coalition, comprising 20 developer and consumer groups, said Apple’s current practices conflict with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into force in 2023. The DMA requires designated “gatekeeper” platforms to allow developers to steer users toward alternative payment options without charging fees.

The renewed call for action follows a recent U.S. court decision that limits Apple’s ability to levy fees on external transactions in the United States. According to the Coalition for Apps Fairness (CAF), that ruling has created a growing imbalance, leaving European developers subject to costs that their U.S. rivals no longer face.

Earlier this year, the European Commission fined Apple €500 million for breaching the DMA, concluding that the company had restricted developers from informing users about alternative payment methods. In response, Apple updated its App Store terms in the EU, introducing commissions of around 13% for smaller developers and up to 20% for others on in-app purchases, as well as additional charges of between 5% and 15% on transactions completed outside the App Store.

CAF, which includes companies such as music streaming service Deezer and privacy-focused firm Proton, said those changes fall short of the DMA’s requirements. The group argues that the revised fees effectively preserve Apple’s control over payments while shifting costs onto developers and consumers.

“This situation is untenable and damaging to the app economy,” the coalition said, accusing Apple of reducing transparency and limiting competition. CAF’s global policy counsel, Gene Burrus, said European developers are forced to absorb the additional costs or pass them on to users, a dynamic he described as harmful to both businesses and consumers in the region.

The coalition said that six months after the Commission ruled Apple’s practices unlawful under the DMA, European developers remain at a disadvantage. While Apple has indicated that further policy changes will take effect in January, it has not provided details, adding to developer frustration.

CAF has called on the European Commission to make clear that compliance with the DMA requires fee-free external transactions, as stipulated by the law. Burrus said regulators should consider escalating the matter to the European Court of Justice if necessary to ensure enforcement.