On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, a coalition of 20 app developers and consumer groups called on EU regulators to enforce the Digital Markets Act (DMA), arguing that Apple’s fee structure unfairly penalizes European firms compared to their U.S. counterparts.
Implemented in 2023, the DMA requires large tech platforms designated as 'gatekeepers,' including Apple, to allow in-app transactions outside their ecosystems without charging fees. Despite this, the European Commission fined Apple €500 million earlier in 2025 for blocking developers from directing users to alternative payment methods.
In response, Apple adjusted its App Store terms, setting fees at 13 percent for smaller developers and 20 percent for all purchases, plus a 5–15 percent penalty on external transactions. The Coalition for Apps Fairness (CAF), which includes firms like Deezer and Proton, contends these fees still breach the DMA and leaves European developers at a disadvantage.
“We want the EU Commission to tell Apple that the law is the law and that free of charge means free of charge,” said Gene Burrus, global policy counsel for the CAF. He warns that European developers must absorb these fees or pass costs to customers, a scenario that hurts both businesses and consumers.
Six months after the Commission deemed Apple’s previous policies illegal, developers say the lack of progress is “untenable” and stifles innovation in the app economy. Although Apple has announced further policy changes set to take effect in January 2026, details remain scarce, fueling frustration across Europe’s tech community.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on Brussels. Will regulators step in to uphold the DMA’s original intent, or will European developers continue to shoulder the cost?
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
