Apple Faces renewed Scrutiny Over App Store Fees Despite EU Ruling
Brussels, belgium – December 18, 2025 – A coalition of digital publishers, known as the Coalition for App Fairness, has escalated its criticism of Apple, alleging the tech giant continues to engage in anti-competitive practices related to App store fees, despite a recent ruling from the European Commission. The group,which includes prominent companies like Deezer,Proton,and Cafeyn,has sent an open letter to European commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging immediate action.
The core of the dispute centers around the Digital Markets Act (DMA), landmark legislation designed to curb the power of large tech companies and foster competition in digital markets.In April 2025, the European Commission formally found Apple in non-compliance with the DMA, specifically regarding its control over the App store ecosystem and the fees it charges developers.
Though, the Coalition for App Fairness argues that Apple’s subsequent proposed changes to its App Store policies fall short of genuine compliance. They contend that the new conditions still impose “exorbitant and illegal commissions” on transactions, effectively circumventing the intent of the DMA. The coalition characterizes thes fees as a continued “tax” on applications distributed through the App Store.
“Apple’s attempts to address the Commission’s concerns are merely superficial,” stated a press release accompanying the open letter.”The proposed changes do not dismantle the basic anti-competitive structures that stifle innovation and harm both developers and consumers.”
The DMA aims to prevent “gatekeeper” companies – those with critically important market power – from unfairly favoring their own services or restricting access for competitors. Key provisions include interoperability requirements, data portability rights, and restrictions on self-preferencing. The Commission has the authority to impose ample fines – up to 10% of a company’s global annual turnover – for repeated violations.
The Coalition for App Fairness is calling on the European Commission to implement “immediate coercive measures” to enforce full compliance with the DMA. This could include further investigations, stricter penalties, and possibly structural remedies aimed at opening up the app Store ecosystem to greater competition.
Apple has not yet issued a formal response to the coalition’s letter, but has previously defended its App Store policies as necessary for maintaining security and providing a high-quality user experience. the company maintains that its fees are proportionate to the value it provides to developers through its platform and marketing efforts.
This latest advancement underscores the ongoing tension between Apple and european regulators, and highlights the challenges of enforcing the DMA against powerful tech companies. The Commission’s response to the Coalition for App fairness’s concerns will be closely watched by the tech industry and competition advocates alike.
Keywords: Apple, App Store, DMA, Digital Markets act, European Commission, Coalition for App Fairness, Ursula von der Leyen, anti-competitive practices, app fees, developer fees, digital regulation, tech regulation, Deezer, Proton, Cafeyn.
Sources:
* https://appfairness.org/open-letter-stop-apples-illegal-app-store-fees-under-dma/
* https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-markets-act (European Commission – Digital Markets Act)
* (General background on the DMA and Apple’s compliance from reputable tech news sources like Reuters,Bloomberg,and The Verge – accessed December 18,2025 – Note: Specific URLs were omitted as they are time-sensitive and would require constant updating. A thorough search on these sources would confirm the ongoing nature of this dispute.)