December 16, 2025
Commissions, Captchas & Chaos
Devs say Apple still flouting EU's Digital Markets Act six months on
Devs fume as Apple stalls; US links free, EU waits
TLDR: Developers say Apple is still dodging Europe’s new competition law by planning fees on outside payments and pushing clarity to January 2026. Comments rage that US devs can already link out without paying Apple, while Europe gets delays, jokes about “DMA CAPTCHA,” and mounting frustration.
Six months after EU regulators said Apple’s app rules break the Digital Markets Act, developers say Apple is still acting like compliance is optional. The Coalition for App Fairness accuses Apple of preserving its App Store economics by slapping up to 20% commissions on payments made outside the store—precisely what the DMA forbids. Apple promises fresh terms in January 2026, but gives no details, and the vibe in the comments is full-on rage: one dev says they’d be “very pissed” building for the “2nd largest mobile OS,” while another warns, “we’ve seen this playbook before.” As consumers, some are done; one summed it up bluntly: leave if you can.
The thread’s hottest debate: Why do US devs get the better deal? After the Epic Games fight, a US court let apps link out for payments without paying Apple, prompting one commenter to brag that “anyone can link outside… without paying Apple anything.” Another asks the awkward question: did Brussels actually OK that 2026 date, or is Apple just stalling? And then there’s the meme brigade: a deadpan pitch for an “EU DMA CAPTCHA” (spot all the bureaucrats) riffs on those endless GDPR cookie popups and had everyone laughing through gritted teeth. The crowd’s verdict: uncertainty is freezing investment, Europe looks tough but toothless, and Apple’s playing calendar chicken while developers sweat.
Key Points
- •The Coalition for App Fairness alleges Apple remains non-compliant with the EU’s DMA six months after an EU non-compliance finding.
- •The coalition’s open letter to the European Commission claims Apple seeks up to 20% commissions on external transactions, which the DMA prohibits.
- •Apple says new App Store terms will roll out in January 2026, but developers report a lack of clarity on what changes will be made.
- •The coalition argues uncertainty and lack of transparency are freezing investment and innovation among developers.
- •The letter contrasts EU enforcement with U.S. outcomes from Epic Games litigation, where developers can use external payments without Apple commissions.