Apple introduced several new features to the App Store to meet the Digital Market Act (DMA) by the European Union (EU) which finally allows third-party stores and payments outside their ecosystem. But at the same time Apple still asks developers to pay the Core Technology Fee by taking a 17% cut from each customer payment. As a result last June Apple was investigated by the EU because the changes made were found to still not comply with the DMA.
This morning Apple updated their store usage guidelines again with new options to meet DMA requirements. If the developer refuses to pay the Core Technology Fee, they can choose not to use it but they will be charged a new “Initial Acquisition Fee” and “Store Service Fee” which takes a 15% deduction from every payment made by the customer.
In a statement provided to Techcrunch, Spotify said the new guidelines are confusing and unacceptable because the DMA does not allow multiple fees to be charged for basic elements such as links out of the App Store and subscription payments.
Meanwhile, Epic Games CEO Time Sweeney said Apple is continuing malicious compliance by imposing a new, illegal 15% "junk fee" on users who migrate to rival stores. The EU has not yet issued a statement on whether Apple's new guidelines comply with the DMA and whether the investigation carried out last June will continue.