Apple has made changes to its alternative conditions for Developers in the European Union, sparking sharp criticism in the community. These changes were implemented in response to the DMA law, which requires large technological platforms to ensure fair competition in the market. One of the violations cited by Apple under DMA was the prohibition of developers to post links in applications for third-party payments.
In January 2023, Apple announced initial changes to its business practices in compliance with DMA. However, the European Commission deemed these measures inadequate. In response, Apple introduced updated conditions that now grant developers in the EU the choice between using the built-in App Store purchases, alternative payment systems, and third-party stores to sell their applications.
The alternative conditions encompass three key elements:
- Using the App Store’s built-in purchasing system;
- Utilizing alternative payment systems;
- Allowing links from applications to external resources.
The new rules also entail additional commissions:
- 5% for the initial sale of digital goods and services on any platform within 12 months of app installation;
- 10-20% for store services, depending on the chosen contract.
According to “Alternative conditions,” Apple charges a 17% commission for sales in EU stores or 10% for Small Business App Store participants. Additionally, there is a 3% payment processing commission and a collection for Core Technology.
Under the new conditions, the commission for sales remains at 5%, but the store services collection increases to 20%. For Small Business App Store participants or automatic subscriptions exceeding one year, the collection is reduced from 10% to 7%. To assist developers in navigating these complex calculations, Apple has created a Calculator tool.
Spotify has expressed discontent with Apple’s new conditions, claiming that the tech giant disregards key DMA law requirements and continues to levy high commissions. Spotify urges the European Commission to expedite the investigation, implement daily fines, and ensure DMA Law compliance.