Latest news with #TimSweeney
India Today
20 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
Apple loosens App Store grip on outside offers and fee structure after Rs 5007.35 crore EU fine
Apple has eased its App Store rules in the European Union after being fined 500 million (which is around Rs 5,007 crore) by EU antitrust regulators. The company was also ordered to stop blocking developers from directing users to alternative payment systems. The changes, which were announced on Thursday, are Apple's attempt to comply with the EU's stritct Digital Markets Act (DMA) that aims to curb the power of large tech companies and promote fairer competition in digital markets. advertisementAccording to a report by Reuters, Apple said it will now allow developers in the EU to add as many links as they want in their apps, directing users to external websites to complete purchases. Developers who make sales this way will be charged a fee ranging from 5 per cent to 15 per cent, depending on the developer's size and the service used. For those continuing to use Apple's in-app purchase system, the fee will remain at 20 per cent, with small developers paying as low as 13 per cent under Apple's small business move comes as the European Commission warned Apple it had 60 days to comply with the DMA or face daily penalties of up to 5 per cent of its average global daily revenue – roughly 50 million per 'The European Commission is requiring Apple to make a series of additional changes to the App Store. We disagree with this outcome and plan to appeal,' Apple reportedly said in a statement. The company has already paid the 500 million fine imposed earlier this Commission said it will now examine Apple's updated rules to assess whether they fully comply with the DMA. It also invited other market players and developers to share feedback on Apple's new terms. 'As part of this assessment the Commission considers it particularly important to obtain the views of market operators and interested third parties before deciding on next steps,' it said in a not everyone is pleased with Apple's response. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, whose company had sued Apple in 2020 over antitrust issues, criticised the changes in a post on X. He described Apple's move as 'a mockery of fair competition,' claiming that apps using their own payment methods are still 'taxed and commercially crippled' within the App Store. Sweeney also claims that Apple deliberately makes it difficult to use third-party apps by blocking auto-updates, weakening search, and disabling features like customer support and family sharing. He argues that this creates a poor user experience and hurts developers. As a solution, he proposes that all developers should have equal access to App Store features, be free to use any payment system, and only pay for Apple's actual payment services -- not additional fees. In April 2025, a US federal judge delivered a major win for Sweeney's Epic Games in its long-running legal clash with Apple. After nearly five years, the court found that Apple had wilfully violated a 2021 injunction intended to make the App Store more open to competition. The judge said Apple's decision to enforce a 27 per cent fee on external purchases was driven by profit rather than user safety or innovation – the two arguments Apple has often used to defend its commission structure. As a result, the court referred the matter to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation. Apple has said it plans to appeal the has also filed a separate legal challenge against the EU's broader demands to open up its tightly controlled ecosystem. The company argues that the Commission's rules are unreasonable, costly, and could undermine user privacy and security.'These deeply flawed rules that only target Apple – and no other company – will severely limit our ability to deliver innovative products and features to Europe,' the company said earlier this Apple prepares to fight the EU in court, it will still have to comply with the Commission's order. That includes allowing competitors like Google, Meta, Spotify and Garmin to request access to key Apple technologies, and laying out a timeline for how Apple must respond to those interoperability requests. - Ends
Phone Arena
21 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Epic Games CEO furious after Apple's latest EU App Store move, calls it "blatantly unlawful"
Mere hours ago, Apple announced new App Store rule changes for developers in the European Union, but Cupertino's latest move is not making Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney happy… at you know, there's an ongoing Epic Games vs Apple scandal. It began in 2020 when Epic added a direct payment option to Fortnite on iOS, bypassing Apple's 30% commission and violating App Store rules. Apple removed the game, prompting Epic to sue, accusing Apple of monopolistic control over app distribution and in-app the following years, a judge ruled that Apple was not a monopoly but did violate California law by preventing developers from linking to alternative payment methods. While most of Epic's claims were dismissed, the court upheld an injunction forcing Apple to allow developers to steer users to external payment Apple has made major changes to how the App Store works in the European Union to comply with the EU's new Digital Markets Act (DMA). Developers now have more freedom to promote their apps, use multiple external links, and direct users to outside payment options (these were previously restricted).At the same time, Apple is introducing new fees, including a 2% Initial Acquisition Fee for new users and a split-tier system for Store Services, charging 5% or 13% depending on what level of features developers choose. This is precisely what has made Tim Sweeney furious: Image source – X Besides calling the latest Apple move "a malicious compliance scheme" that is "blatantly unlawful in both Europe and the United States and makes a mockery of fair competition", Tim says that "Apple blocks auto-updates to these apps, cripples search for them, and blocks customer support and family sharing": Image source – X Tim Sweeney suggested that instead of just pointing out flaws, it's important to offer real solutions: Image source – X He believes the App Store should offer its full set of features to every developer equally, without restrictions. Developers should have the freedom to decide how they handle payments – whether through Apple, their own systems, or a mix of both. Apple should only charge for the services it actually provides, without adding extra fees or penalties for using alternative options. According to Sweeney, this approach would create a healthier, more balanced system – similar to how things work on Windows and Mac – encouraging innovation and growth while reducing the dominance of mobile app store monopolies. Personally, I don't see an easy way out of it. Some regulators wave their finger at Apple and threats are made, Apple says it'll see what it can do, then takes action, but in its own style, often repackaging and renaming the same thing they used to push previously. X users are joking that Apple might keep behaving the same way, just calling it with new names, like "Platform Participation Surcharge, "Digital Infrastructure Tariff", or "Mandatory Mutual Prosperity Fee". Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Apple introduces new App Store fees in EU to avoid €500 million fine
Apple has introduced sweeping changes to its European Union App Store policies, introducing a complicated multi-tier fee system aimed at avoiding crushing daily fines that could reach €50 million under the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The company now allows EU developers to freely link customers to alternative payment methods outside the App Store without restrictive warning screens or mandatory text. However, these freedoms come with new costs through Apple's revamped commission structure. New fee framework creates multiple payment tiers Under the updated system, developers face up to three separate fees for a single app download. Apple introduced a " Core Technology Commission " of 5% on all digital purchases made outside the App Store, alongside an initial acquisition fee of 2% and variable store services fees ranging from 5% to 13%. The company also created a two-tier service structure. Tier 1 offers basic features like app reviews and fraud protection for a 5% commission, while Tier 2 provides full App Store benefits including automatic updates, marketing tools, and app insights for 13%. Small Business Program participants receive reduced rates. Apps using external payment links will pay the Core Technology Commission, while those merely referencing outside deals continue under the existing Core Technology Fee of €0.50 per download after one million installs. Regulatory standoff continues despite changes Apple's modifications follow a €500 million fine imposed in April for violating DMA anti-steering rules. The European Commission threatened additional daily penalties worth up to 5% of Apple's global revenue if the company failed to comply by June 26. "We disagree with this outcome and plan to appeal," Apple stated, maintaining its opposition to the regulatory requirements. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, whose company successfully challenged Apple's US steering policies, criticized the changes as "malicious compliance" that commercially cripples competing payment systems. The European Commission will now assess whether Apple's proposals achieve genuine DMA compliance before determining if additional fines are warranted. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Apple changes App Store rules in EU to comply with antitrust order
Apple on Thursday changed rules and fees in its App Store in the European Union after the bloc's antitrust regulators ordered it to remove commercial barriers to sending customers outside the store. Apple said developers will pay a 20% processing fee for purchases made via the App Store, though the fees could go as low as 13% for Apple's small-business program. Developers who send customers outside the App Store for payment will pay a minimum fee of 5% and at most 15%. Developers will also be able to use as many links as they wish to send users to outside forms of payment. The changes are aimed at trying to help Apple avoid paying daily fines of 5% of its average daily worldwide revenue, or about 50 million euros ($58 million) per day after being given 60 days to show it was in compliance with the bloc's Digital Markets Act. Apple has already paid 500 million euro ($580 million) fine levied by EU antitrust regulators in April. 'The European Commission is requiring Apple to make a series of additional changes to the App Store. We disagree with this outcome and plan to appeal,' Apple said in a statement. In a statement, the European Commission said it will now review Apple's changes for compliance with the Digital Markets Act. 'As part of this assessment the Commission considers it particularly important to obtain the views of market operators and interested third parties before deciding on next steps,' the Commission said in a statement. In a statement posted on social media site X, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, which fought a protracted antitrust lawsuit with Apple, called Apple's changes 'a mockery of fair competition in digital markets. Apps with competing payments are not only taxed but commercially crippled in the App Store.' Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sweeney's remarks. (1 euro = $1.17 US Dollar)
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Apple changes App Store rules in EU to comply with antitrust order
Apple on Thursday changed rules and fees in its App Store in the European Union after the bloc's antitrust regulators ordered it to remove commercial barriers to sending customers outside the store. Apple said developers will pay a 20% processing fee for purchases made via the App Store, though the fees could go as low as 13% for Apple's small-business program. Developers who send customers outside the App Store for payment will pay a minimum fee of 5% and at most 15%. Developers will also be able to use as many links as they wish to send users to outside forms of payment. The changes are aimed at trying to help Apple avoid paying daily fines of 5% of its average daily worldwide revenue, or about 50 million euros ($58 million) per day after being given 60 days to show it was in compliance with the bloc's Digital Markets Act. Apple has already paid 500 million euro ($580 million) fine levied by EU antitrust regulators in April. 'The European Commission is requiring Apple to make a series of additional changes to the App Store. We disagree with this outcome and plan to appeal," Apple said in a statement. In a statement, the European Commission said it will now review Apple's changes for compliance with the Digital Markets Act. "As part of this assessment the Commission considers it particularly important to obtain the views of market operators and interested third parties before deciding on next steps," the Commission said in a statement. In a statement posted on social media site X, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, which fought a protracted antitrust lawsuit with Apple, called Apple's changes "a mockery of fair competition in digital markets. Apps with competing payments are not only taxed but commercially crippled in the App Store." Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sweeney's remarks.
