AppleApple, known for its stringent App Store policies, recently announced adjustments to its proposals to align with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to curtail the dominance of tech giants and foster a competitive environment.
This landmark legislation, effective March 7, mandates that Apple and five other tech behemoths modify their operations to ensure fair competition and enhance user choice.
In January, Apple revealed plans that would permit software developers to offer their applications to European Union users via platforms other than Apple’s own App Store.
This included introducing new fees and conditions.
However, the initial proposal faced backlash from app developers, prompting Apple to revise its terms.
One significant change is the removal of the requirement for a corporate entity to sign the addendum for each membership that is interlinked by control.
“We’ve removed the corporate entity requirement that the Addendum must be signed by each membership that controls, is controlled by, or is under control with another membership,” stated Apple on its website.
This adjustment simplifies the process for developers, allowing them to agree to the new terms at the developer account level, enhancing accessibility to Apple’s modified app distribution framework.
Furthermore, Apple introduced a one-time option for developers, granting them the ability to revert to Apple’s standard business conditions for EU applications under specific circumstances.
This flexibility indicates Apple’s willingness to accommodate developer preferences and concerns regarding the new policies.
Another noteworthy revision is the elimination of the previous demand for developers wanting to establish alternative app marketplaces to present a letter of credit.
Instead, Apple has set forth two eligibility criteria to ensure a controlled environment for such endeavors.
Developers can now operate an alternative marketplace if their account has been active for two years and they maintain a significant app business in the EU, evidenced by more than 1 million First Annual Installs.
These modifications reflect Apple’s effort to comply with the DMA while addressing the critiques from the developer community, aiming to balance regulatory requirements with the interests of its developer ecosystem.