Apple refers to a fine of EUR 500 million which threatens it in the European Union for alleged infringement of the Digital Markets Act.
In a message to MacRumors, Apple stated that the fine is unprecedented and goes beyond legal requirements.
Today, we appealed due to the fact that we believe that the European Commission’s decision — and its unprecedented fine — goes far beyond legal requirements. As our appeal will show, the EC orders us to run our store and enforces business conditions that are confusing for programmers and bad for users. We have implemented this to avoid fines and share facts with the Court.
Apple was fined in April for preventing programmers from informing users about acquisition options available outside the App Store. The European Commission has stated that programmers should be able to manage their customers outside the "App Store".
"App developers distributing their applications through the Apple App store should be able to inform customers free of charge about alternate offers outside the App Store, direct them to these offers and enable them to make purchases," the European Commission stated in its ruling.
In addition to imposing a fine of EUR 500 million on Apple, the European Commission has besides ordered Apple to change its rules on directing or imposing further fines. Apple introduced the required changes at the end of June to avoid further penalties during the appeal process. Apps distributed through EU store sites can now freely connect to offers available outside the App store and even offer alternate acquisition options that do not usage the Apple purchasing system.
Apple besides updated its charging structure in the European Union and by 1 January 2026 all EU developers will pay a basic technology commission, an first charge for acquisition and a store fee. Fees will vary depending on the level of App store that developers will choose from, and tiny Business participants The program will pay lower fees. The maximum fee under the fresh app distribution strategy in the App store with the full Apple service package is 20 percent, which is 10 percent little than the erstwhile charge of 30 percent.
Apple claims that the European Commission has requested it to offer different levels that would let developers to pay little for less services, which is why there is simply a new, more complex system. The KE besides instructed Apple, which developers should be able to opt out of, resulting in Apple moving the search and browsing options beyond the mandatory level.
Apple plans to argue that the EC is telling her how to operate and the committee extended the definition of control beyond legal requirements.
