By Peter.
A coalition of 20 app developers and consumer advocacy groups, led by the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), has urged the European Commission to robustly enforce the Digital Markets Act (DMA) against Apple, highlighting what they describe as an unfair competitive disadvantage for EU-based developers compared to their U.S. counterparts.
The call, issued on December 16, 2025, comes in the wake of a recent U.S. appeals court ruling in the long-running Epic Games v. Apple antitrust case. That decision partially reversed earlier sanctions, allowing Apple to potentially impose “reasonable” commissions on external transactions in the U.S.—terms the coalition argues are more favorable than those facing EU developers under Apple’s DMA compliance measures.
Under the DMA—enforced since 2023—gatekeepers like Apple must allow developers to steer users to alternative payment systems free of charge. Following a €500 million fine earlier in 2025 for anti-steering violations, Apple introduced fees of 13–20% on App Store transactions plus 5–15% on external ones. CAF, whose members include companies like Deezer and Proton, contends these still breach the law’s “free of charge” mandate.
“This situation is untenable and damaging to the app economy,” CAF stated, accusing Apple of stifling innovation and transparency. Global Policy Counsel Gene Burrus emphasized that EU developers must absorb or pass on these costs, harming businesses and consumers alike. He called for the Commission to affirm that “free of charge means free of charge,” even suggesting referral to the European Court of Justice if needed.
Apple has announced further EU policy adjustments set for January 2026, including a shift to a unified model replacing the Core Technology Fee with a sales-based Core Technology Commission, but details remain unclear, adding to developer frustration.
The dispute underscores ongoing transatlantic tensions in tech regulation, with the DMA aiming to level the playing field while Apple maintains its changes balance compliance with platform integrity.
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