Apple appeals €500 million EU fine for Digital Markets Act violation

Apple has filed an appeal against the European Commission’s €500 million fine for breaching EU competition rules under the Digital Markets Act, challenging the scope and interpretation of the regulatory decision.

Apple has appealed the European Commission’s decision to fine the company €500 million for violating the EU’s competition rules for Big Tech, a company spokesperson confirmed on Monday. The fine, issued in April, was related to Apple’s practices under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) regarding how app developers are allowed to communicate with their customers.

“The Commission's requests go far beyond what the law requires,” said Apple spokesperson Emma Wilson in a statement confirming the appeal. Apple argues that the Commission is “mandating how we run our store and forcing business terms which are confusing for developers and bad for users.”

The company’s appeal focuses on two main areas: what it describes as the Commission’s forced tiering of service offerings and an “unlawful” expansion of the DMA’s definition of “steering.” Apple contends that the broadened definition of “steering” now includes in-app promotions, alternative payment services, and demands for links to competing app marketplaces, which Apple believes fundamentally alters the law’s original intent.

This legal action follows Apple’s June 26 announcement of changes to its App Store rules in the EU, made in an effort to comply with the European Commission’s cease-and-desist order. The Commission is currently assessing whether these changes are sufficient to meet the requirements of the April decision, and it may impose daily fines if Apple’s efforts are found to be inadequate.

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