Apple is Planning to Review and Collect Fees From Sideloaded Apps [Report]

Apple is planning to introduce new fees and restrictions on apps that are sideloaded, according to a new report from the WSJ.

In March, the EU's Digital Markets Act comes into force, requiring Apple to allow apps to be installed on iPhone from outside the App Store. The act is intended to address anticompetitive control over app ecosystems; however, for the past year, Apple has purportedly been working on a plan that would let it maintain its firm control over developers.

Apple's approach to the EU law will help ensure the company maintains close oversight of apps downloaded outside the App Store, a process known as sideloading. The company will give itself the ability to review each app downloaded outside of its App Store. Apple also plans to collect fees from developers that offer downloads outside of the App Store, said people familiar with the company's plans. The company hasn't yet announced its plans and they could change.


Notably, Apple has yet to provide a final package describing its solution to the European Commission. Once it does, the EU will check to see if Apple has met the individual provisions of the law.

The EU's top antitrust official, Margrethe Vestager, says she expects all companies will comply with the March deadline and says they are"absolutely ready to do noncompliance cases"; however, it's likely that Apple's legal team has ensured the company's plan is technically compliant.

Recently, in the United States, Apple's anti-steering provisions were found to be anticompetitive. In what appears to be a similar move, the company introduced a large set of burdensome rules and a 27% commission fee on outside transactions to technically comply with the ruling, but make it pointless for developers to process payments outside the App Store.

Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for further updates.


Read More