Apple adjusts EU tech compliance plans following criticism،
Apple, a company that cannot be described as obedient, has changed its plans to comply with new EU technology regulations after app developers criticized some of its initial requirements.
One major change is removing the requirement for developers to have a letter of credit to start alternative app marketplaces (via Reuters).
These changes are part of Apple's efforts to comply with the European Digital Markets Act (DMA) by March 7. This law aims to limit the power of big tech companies, promote competition and provide more options for users.
In January, Apple proposed allowing developers to offer their apps to users in the European Union outside of the App Store and introduced new fees and terms. Now, developers can agree to these new terms more easily, without the need for every related member of the company to sign the agreement. Apple announced on its website: “We have removed the legal entity requirement”:
To make it easier for more developers to sign up to the new terms, we have removed a body corporate's requirement that the addendum be signed by each member that controls, is controlled by, or is under control of another member. This means that an entity can now choose to opt-in to the new terms at the developer account level.
Additionally, Apple now allows developers to opt out of this agreement once and revert to Apple's standard terms for European apps. The company also removed the requirement for a letter of credit for developers wanting to start a new app marketplace and set two eligibility criteria. Developers can run an alternative marketplace if they have had an account for two years and have a well-established app business in the EU with over 1 million installs in the first year.
