On Thursday, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) officially came into effect in the European Union. The new antitrust law aims to break the stranglehold that big tech companies have on certain markets and industries, forcing companies to open up their core platforms to competition.
However, on the first day of the DMA, Apple was in trouble.According to a new report ReutersEuropean Union regulators are investigating the latest battle between Apple and “Fortress Heroes” developer Epic Games.
Why are EU regulators targeting Apple?
On Wednesday, Epic Games revealed the news about Apple termination iOS developer accounts for video game companies. Epic Games plans to open its own alternative market, an alternative to the App Store that Apple is forced to allow in the EU under the DMA.
As part of this plan, Epic Games has announced its intention to bring Fortress Heroes back to iOS. The popular battle royale game has been missing from iPhones since Apple removed it from the App Store in 2020. Apple removed the Fortnite app from the App Store after Epic Games attempted to cut the iPhone maker out of the in-app purchase system to avoid Apple’s revenue-sharing fees.
However, all of Epic Games’ iOS plans in the EU were put on hold after Apple terminated its developer account, citing Epic Games’ past circumvention of Apple’s rules and the company’s criticism of Apple for allegedly violating its terms of service.
A spokesman for the European Commission told Reuters: “We have asked Apple to provide further explanation on this under the DMA (Digital Markets Act).”
Apple doesn’t fare well under new EU regulations
While companies like Meta, Google, and Microsoft will all be affected by the DMA, no major tech company has made headlines for its controversial response to the new regulations more than Apple.
In preparation for the DMA, Apple announced updated policies to comply with the new rules. The company was almost immediately criticized by its peers for “malicious compliance,” as Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney put it.
Perhaps the most controversial decision Apple has made is its new App Store structure. According to the DMA, Apple is forced to allow “alternative markets” for iOS devices to compete with the App Store. Developers who don’t want to comply with Apple’s App Store policies can distribute their apps on iPhone and iPad through third-party App Store competitors.
Earlier this year, Apple shared rules for alternative markets and developers who distribute apps through those markets. One of Apple’s decisions is a charging plan that would require app developers to use alternative marketplaces to charge a per-download fee, even for free apps.
Under Apple’s new policy, developers who accept these terms may find themselves paying Apple more than they did under the company’s old App Store terms. Meta, Microsoft, Spotify and Epic Games all Call Apple out Regarding these policies, it is argued that Apple is deploying policies inspired by the DMA that go against the actual intent of the DMA.
In addition to the App Store rule changes, Apple also announced kill Due to DMA, web applications close the home screen. However, Apple quickly reversed this decision after major incidents occurred. rebound.
Now, on the day the DMA officially comes into effect, EU regulators have announced a preliminary investigation into Apple’s termination of Epic Games developer accounts. Happy Digital Markets Act (DMA) Day everyone!
