Apple could introduce fees and restrictions for downloads outside its App Store،
As new European technology rules, known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), prepare to take effect soon, Apple is preparing for a future where it will have to allow its users to download applications from places other than its App Store.
The Cupertino tech giant didn't reveal exactly how sideloading would work. However, according to The Wall Street JournalIt looks like developers might not get a free pass to skirt company fees and app review guidelines after all.
Thanks to new EU law aimed at loosening Apple's grip on apps, EU citizens could finally download software to their iPhones or iPads without relying solely on the App Store.
Still, insiders familiar with Apple's moves indicate the company intends to collect fees from developers who offer downloads outside of the App Store. Additionally, the company aims to retain the authority to review every app downloaded outside of its App Store. It should be noted that these Apple plans have not been officially revealed and are subject to change.
The proposed restrictions and fees could reignite tensions with app developers, as some had predicted the new law would allow them to distribute their apps to users without being subject to Apple's restrictions or what they perceive to be burdensome commissions.
Some time ago, Spotify, which is already preparing to offer new download options in anticipation of the upcoming changes, and Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, criticized Apple's recently revealed policies allowing third-party payment systems , aligning with a US federal law. court decision.
Following a lengthy legal battle with Epic Games, the new regulations stipulate that developers must still pay a substantial 27% commission on transactions made outside of the App Store (although smaller developers face lower fees of 12%).
Apple's response to new European regulations sets the stage for another potential battleground in the company's global fight to maintain control over third-party software and the substantial profits that come with it.
In 2022, the European Union gave the green light to the DMA, intending to curb allegedly anti-competitive tactics by technology companies. The DMA reins in gatekeepers, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and TikTok, by preventing practices such as self-preferencing, data exclusivity and unfair trading.
