Apple Simplifies EU App Store Fees Amid Regulatory Pressure
Apple has updated its EU App Store commission structure in an effort to resolve ongoing regulatory disputes. The new system, set to take effect on October 1, will charge alternative third-party app stores a 5% commission on in-app purchases.
This 'Core Technology Commission' replaces the more complicated fee structure Apple proposed last year and is seen as a way for the company to draw a line under years of regulatory conflict in Europe.
The new system has different tiers, with apps that use Apple's own payment system for digital goods paying 26%, while those that process their own payments directly will pay 20%. Apps that simply link out to a website to complete a purchase will be charged 15%.
Some of these fees can be cut in half if developers participate in certain Apple programs. This change matters for Apple stock investors as it affects the company's Services business, an increasingly important growth engine.