The European Union is watching and is ready to “take strong measures”

There has been a lot of discussion about Apple's proposed changes to the App Store, and whether or not they would satisfy antitrust regulators.

The EU has not yet committed, but said it would study it closely, and would not hesitate to “take strong action” if necessary…

Apple's proposed App Store changes

Apple announced last week that it would allow third-party app stores, as well as offering an alternative business model for developers in the EU, which includes a lower commission for an annual fee on each app over a million installs.

The developers noted that the terms imposed by Apple would make it nearly impossible to leave the App Store, and switching to the alternative contract was risky. It has been widely suggested that European antitrust regulators are unlikely to accept that the new terms comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The European Union is ready to “take strong measures”

The European Union has not yet commented on Apple's announcement, but said it will study the plan in detail and, most importantly, will seek the opinions of third parties, which will include developers.

Reuters Reports.

Asked about Apple's plans, EU industry chief Thierry Breton exclusively told Reuters: “The DMA will open the doors of the Internet to competition so that digital markets are fair and open. Change is already happening. From March 7, we will evaluate companies' proposals with third-party feedback.”

He added: “If the proposed solutions are not good enough, we will not hesitate to take strong measures.”

These third-party opinions seem guaranteed to include strong objections from developers. We've already seen major developers call it a “shameful insult” and “a step in the wrong direction,” and the criticism continues.

“Allowing alternative payments and marketplaces sounds positive on the surface, but the restrictions associated with Apple’s new policies mean that in practice it will be impossible for developers to take advantage of them,” said Andy Yen, founder and CEO of privacy-focused software company Proton. “.

Breton's comments suggest that it will take some time before we know where the EU stands.