{"id":52942,"date":"2026-08-18T16:39:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T20:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=52942"},"modified":"2026-08-18T16:42:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T20:42:33","slug":"new-eu-app-store-terms-to-comply-with-dma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2026\/08\/18\/new-eu-app-store-terms-to-comply-with-dma\/","title":{"rendered":"New EU App Store Terms to Comply With DMA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple<\/a> (developer<\/a>, details<\/a>, Hacker News<\/a>, TechCrunch<\/a>, The Verge<\/a>, 9To5Mac<\/a>):<\/p>\n

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These changes resolve Apple’s disagreements with the Commission over business terms and alternative distribution. They also reduce complexity by moving every developer that distributes apps in the EU to a single set of business terms.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

The Core Technology Fee, a per-install fee for developers that achieve extraordinary scale, will be replaced by the Core Technology Commission, a simple 5 percent commission on digital transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store. The new terms also eliminate the initial acquisition fee and store services fee.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Under the updated terms, developers can now offer Apple In-App Purchase alongside alternative payment options, which had not previously been permitted in the EU.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Apple is also expanding who is eligible to operate an alternative app marketplace or distribute apps via the web in the EU.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Apple will continue to require every alternatively distributed app to go through Notarization[…]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Juli Clover<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Apple will charge a 26% fee for apps distributed through the App Store that use in-app purchase.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Apps in the App Store that use in-app alternative payment processing will pay 20%.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Apps that link to a website purchase option will pay 15%.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Apps using Web Distribution or App Marketplaces would pay the 5% CTC (and report<\/a> transactions). I like that the new terms are simpler and that the fees are slightly lower, but it seems like the EU got tricked or surrendered here.<\/p>\n\n

EMIRELADERO<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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This is bonkers, I can’t believe the EU Commission agreed to it. The main issue that the DMA was about still remains: Apple retains ultimate control over app developers’ dealings with users.<\/p>\n

The status quo that the EU should have pushed for, and which Article 6(7) of the DMA requires, is one where a developer can distribute iOS apps to users without ever entering into any contractual relationship with Apple.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

mjorgers<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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All in all, still extremely anti-consumer. If I can download and run arbitrary code on my Mac--even if I have to jump through scary warnings--why should I not be able to do so on my phone? Why would one computing platform be different from the other?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Ben Lovejoy<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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However, while Apple hopes<\/em> it will be allowed to charge these lower commissions, it has admitted in a new regulatory filing that it may not be allowed to charge any commission at all on purchases made through third-party app stores and other external platforms.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Tim Hardwick<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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The commission Apple earns from the App Store is shrinking in markets where it has been forced to relax its grip on in-app purchases, based on new analytics data.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n