Back in March, the European Commission announced that it started an investigation relating to Apple’s new fee structure for alternative app stores. Namely, the fact that Apple charges a “Core Technology Fee” for developers who want to “steer” users to offers outside of its App Store. There’s also an additional 3% that goes to Apple if a developer uses its payment processor.
The imposing of such fees onto developers will be found in breach of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to a new report from the Financial Times. This would be the first time a tech company would be charged based on the DMA, which started having effects earlier this year.
An announcement of the charges is allegedly expected in the coming weeks, according to “people familiar with the matter”. Apple is facing a fine of up to 5% of its global daily turnover per day for non-compliance. That’s around $50 million per day.
But it won’t necessarily get to that – things are a bit more complicated, since the company could still take actions to correct its practices to the satisfaction of the EC after it announces its preliminary findings in the near future.
