The appeal comes in the wake of a U.S. court ruling that limits Apple’s ability to charge fees on external transactions, highlighting what the coalition says is a growing disparity. The coalition, known as the Coalition for Apps Fairness (CAF) and representing firms including Deezer and Proton, stressed that European developers remain unfairly burdened by fees imposed by Apple.
Under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), implemented in 2023, major tech platforms designated as “gatekeepers” — such as Apple — are required to allow in-app transactions outside their ecosystems at no cost. The European Commission had previously fined Apple €500 million ($588 million) for violating the DMA by preventing developers from directing users to alternative payment methods.
Following the EU ruling, Apple revised its terms, charging fees of 13% for smaller businesses and up to 20% for App Store purchases, alongside penalties of 5% to 15% on external transactions. CAF maintains that these changes still breach DMA rules.
“This situation is untenable and damaging to the app economy,” CAF said, accusing Apple of undermining transparency and stifling innovation. Gene Burrus, CAF’s Global Policy Counsel, noted that EU developers either have to absorb these costs or pass them onto consumers. “It is bad for European companies, and it is bad for European consumers,” he said.
CAF highlighted that six months after the Commission declared Apple’s policies illegal under the DMA, European developers continue to face disadvantages. While Apple has announced plans for further policy updates in January, the lack of clarity has fueled frustration among developers.
“We want the EU Commission to tell Apple that the law is the law and that free of charge means free of charge,” Burrus said, urging European authorities to consider escalating the matter to the European Court of Justice if necessary.