EU Welcomes Apple's App Store Changes, Epic Slams 'Junk Fees'

Apple yesterday updated its App Store fees in the EU to comply with the Digital Markets Act and to put an end to its ongoing conflict with the European Commission. Apple cut the Core Technology Fee and simplified its pricing structure, so apps distributed through alternative marketplaces or through the web will pay less than before. When announcing the changes, Apple said it worked in "close collaboration" with the EC, and that the updates would "resolve Apple's disagreements with the Commission over business terms and alternative distribution." The European Commission has since confirmed that it approves of Apple's changes to its App Store policies, giving a statement to the Irish Independent: The Commission welcomes Apple's changes to their business terms, which follow a close dialogue between the Commission and Apple after the Commission issued a non-compliance decision related to Apple's steering terms as well as preliminary findings related to alternative app distribution, both in April 2025. Following today's announcement, the Commission will monitor Apple's effective implementation of the new terms. Under the DMA, users in the EU have a right to full and effective choice of alternative app distribution channels. The EC says it will continue to monitor how Apple implements the new terms, which will go into effect on October 1. While the EC approved Apple's planned changes, Apple legal opponent Epic Games was not happy with the new fee structure, denouncing the "new junk fees." ‌Epic Games‌ said Apple's new terms do not comply with the Digital Markets Act and claimed if the EC accepts the terms, the DMA "will become meaningless." Apple announced new junk fees in the EU that do nothing to open up the mobile app ecosystem to competition, as required by Digital Market Act. Apple will now charge:• 20% fee on alternative in-app payment options• 15% fee on links to make purchases outside apps• 5% Core Technology Commission on payments made in apps downloaded from alternative stores or the web The law makes it clear that Apple must allow developers to offer link outs to the web for purchases "free of charge" and has to allow "effective use" of competing stores. Apple's terms deliberately violate the Digital Markets Act. If the Commission accepts the terms and drops their ongoing enforcement actions, the law will become meaningless and consumers and developers will not experience the benefits it was designed to provide. Under the new terms, ‌Epic Games‌ will need to pay a five percent Core Technology Commission on digital purchases made through its ‌Epic Games‌ Store on the iPhone and iPad in the EU. For an app distributed through the ‌App Store‌ with a link to purchase options, Epic would need to pay 15 percent. Apple is implementing lower rates for Small Business Program, Video Partner Program, and Mini Apps Partner Program participants, plus it waives the Core Technology Commission for small marketplaces. ‌Epic Games‌ does not qualify for reduced fees. Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts. Popular StoriesGoogle Fined $1 Billion by EU for Search Bias and App Store RestrictionsThursday July 23, 2026 5:39 am PDT by Tim HardwickGoogle was today fined €890 million ($1 billion) by the European Union for breaching antitrust rules with regard to its search and Google Play store services. The European Commission found that Google had broken the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by using its dominant position in the search market to favour its own services, like shopping and hotel deals, over those of rivals. The Commission ...Apple Responds to Lawsuit Over Fake Bitcoin Wallet Scam in App StoreApple is facing a new lawsuit from three customers who allegedly lost a combined $1.8 million after falling victim to a fake Bitcoin wallet app in the App Store, according to a complaint filed in California federal court on Friday. The complaint alleges that Apple violated California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act and other laws by failing to adequately review and monitor apps distributed...Apple Says UK App Store Steering Rules Would Be 'Highly Intrusive'Wednesday July 29, 2026 3:43 pm PDT by Juli CloverApple said new UK App Store rules would give regulators a "highly intrusive" role dictating how it runs its business, reports Reuters. Apple submitted feedback to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority as it considers forcing Apple to change its App Store rules around steering. The CMA wants Apple to let developers link to payment options outside of the App Store, which the CMA says will ...