Apple is lashing out at European regulators, accusing them of using “political delay tactics” to keep the company under investigation and justify massive new fines. This heated exchange follows the recent shutdown of a rival app store, Setapp, which blamed Apple’s confusing and complex business rules for its failure.
The conflict began in 2024, when the European Union’s Digital Markets Act took effect. This law forced Apple to let other companies open their own app stores on the iPhone. Apple complied, but it added a lot of fine print and new costs. For example, they started charging developers €0.50 per install once an app reached 1 million downloads. Many developers, including the creators of Setapp, argued that these terms were too complex and made it impossible to run a profitable business.
Apple claims it has already tried to fix these issues. Last year, the company proposed a new system that would replace those fees with a simple 5% revenue share. Apple says it submitted a formal plan to the European Commission in October, but it is still waiting for a response. Because of this silence, Apple believes the EU is intentionally “moving the goalposts” to make it look like the company is still breaking the law.
The European Commission sees things differently. A spokesperson said they are in “constant contact” with Apple to ensure the company fully follows the law. They insist their main goal is to protect competition and listen to the concerns of developers from all over the world.
The stakes in this battle are incredibly high. The EU already hit Apple with a $500 million fine last year for blocking rival payment options. If regulators decide that Apple is still making things too hard for competitors, the next penalty could be even larger. For now, the two sides remain stuck in a standoff over who truly controls the iPhone’s software.
