Apple has filed an official appeal against the €500 million fine imposedd by the European Commission over its App Store practices. The penalty stems from alleged violations of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), particularly regarding anti-steering rules that prevent app developers from directing users to alternative payment methods outside Apple’s ecosystem.
According to the company, the Commission’s decision and the unprecedented scale of the fine go beyond what the law requires. In a statement, Apple spokesperson Peter Ajemian said, “Today we filed our appeal because we believe the European Commission’s decision—and their unprecedented fine—go far beyond what the law requires. The Commission is mandating how we run our store and imposing business terms that are confusing for developers and harmful to users.”
In an effort to comply with the DMA and avoid further penalties, Apple introduced new rules in June for the EU market. These changes allow developers to include external payment links in their apps, while also introducing new commission rates of 5% or 13%, depending on the transaction type. Apple stated that these updates were made to avoid daily punitive fines.
However, the European Commission has not yet confirmed whether these changes meet DMA requirements. Feedback is currently being collected from app developers and other stakeholders to assess whether Apple’s new policy adjustments are sufficient.
Industry experts view this legal challenge as a crucial test for the enforcement power of the DMA. The outcome of Apple’s appeal could set an important precedent for how digital platforms are regulated across Europe and how much control large tech firms can maintain over their ecosystems within the EU legal framework.
