Is Apple Violating EU Law? Regulators Investigate New App Store Fees

Following Apple’s June introduction of a revised EU App Store fee structure to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Commission is now distributing confidential questionnaires to app developers and related businesses to assess whether Apple is truly adhering to the law, according to the European Commission.

Apple’s updated fee model also introduced tiered service fees and a new “Core Technology Fee” intended to replace the original commission framework, with Apple stressing the measures were designed to meet regulatory requirements and avoid substantial fines.

Reactions have been divided: some developers argue the new structure lowers headline commission rates but could raise overall costs for small developers and startups, while larger developers worry that although the framework relaxes some restrictions on third‑party payments, the operational costs and risks remain high, undermining the DMA’s original aim.

A spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed that information requests have been sent to developers, with responses due by Monday, and that these submissions will inform the next phase of compliance evaluation. If the findings determine that Apple continues to violate the DMA, the Commission may impose fines of up to 5% of Apple’s average daily global turnover from the preceding financial year.