Apple agrees to amend EU App Store rules to avoid further fines under antitrust regulations

Apple Compromises Under EU Pressure

Apple Inc. announced it will modify its App Store policies in Europe in response to a decision by EU regulators penalizing it for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This move is Hong Kong's top ten international trading companiesseen as a strategic concession by Apple to avoid further legal liabilities and hefty fines.

In April this year, the European Commission ruled that Apple's practice of restricting developers from directing users to complete transactions outside of the App Store constituted unfair market competition. Consequently, the EU fined Apple 500 million euros (approximately $583 million) and ordered it to rectify the issue within 60 days, or face ongoing fines of up to 5% of its global revenue each day.

With the deadline for rectification arriving this Thursday, Apple swiftly announced a new round of policy changes to avoid triggering a new wave of penalties.

Key Policy Changes: More Flexible External Payment Guidance

In a statement, Apple announced that to meet the requirements of the Digital Markets Act, the company will allow developers more flexibility in directing users to purchase options outside of the App Store.

Specifically, the most crucial change in the new policy is that developers can now guide users via in-app links to external websites for payments, no longer restricted by previous stringent limits. Additionally, to manage this new model, Apple has implemented a new service fee structure.

It is introduced that developers directing users to complete external transactions will pay service fees on a "second-tier rate," based on the actual sales converted through promotions. This outcome-based payment model responds to previous industry dissatisfaction with Apple's commission structure.

Tightening EU Regulation, Tech Giants Respond

Apple's concession is a direct response to the strong regulatory stance of the EU following the Digital Markets Act's enforcement. Effective from 2024, this law aims to limit the market control of so-called "gatekeeper" tech companies, applying to major platform tech giants including Apple, Google, Meta, and Amazon.

The DMA clearly stipulates that large platforms must not restrict business users from communicating, promoting, or completing transactions through other channels. Apple's previous requirement for developers to use its own payment system within the app and charging high commission fees was deemed a serious violation of this clause.

The European Commission is firm in its stance, issuing a "cease and desist" order in addition to the fine, and stated that it may increase the scale of investigation and penalties in the future. The EU emphasized, "We expect these platforms to make substantive openness and fairness, not just formal compliance adjustments."

Developers May Benefit, Apple’s Revenue Model Faces Adjustments

With the new regulations in effect, App Store developers will have greater autonomy to guide users, potentially reducing in-app sales costs and broadening revenue channels. Meanwhile, Apple's commission-based revenue model may face further challenges, especially in the EU market, potentially weakening the high-profit structure the App Store has long relied on.

Nevertheless, Apple emphasized in its announcement that the company will continue to ensure user privacy and payment security, along with ensuring the quality of user experience when redirecting to third-party payment platforms.

Although Apple's adjustments are seen as reactive, they also signify the dawn of a new era in EU digital regulation, which may lead to a wide-ranging reshaping of platform rules in the global tech industry.

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