Apple Accuses European Commission of 'Political Delay Tactics' To Justify Fines (macrumors.com)
- Reference: 0180642340
- News link: https://apple.slashdot.org/story/26/01/23/0941249/apple-accuses-european-commission-of-political-delay-tactics-to-justify-fines
- Source link: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/22/apple-europe-political-delay-tactics/
MacPaw, the developer behind Setapp, said it would [2]shut down the marketplace next month because of "still-evolving and complex business terms that don't fit Setapp's current business model." The EC is preparing to say that Apple has not rolled out changes to address key issues concerning its business terms and their complexity, according to remarks seen by Bloomberg.
Apple said it disputes this finding. The company said it submitted a formal compliance plan in October proposing to replace its $0.59 per-install fee structure with a 5% revenue share, but the commission has not responded. "The European Commission has refused to let us implement the very changes that they requested," Apple said. The company also claimed there is no demand in the EU for alternative app stores and disputed that Setapp is closing because of its actions.
[1] https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/22/apple-europe-political-delay-tactics/
[2] https://apple.slashdot.org/story/26/01/20/1855225/setapp-mobile-to-close-in-february-as-alternative-ios-app-store-economics-prove-untenable
No demand for a 3rd-party app store in the EU? (Score:1, Troll)
Right, because Apple strongly (and programmatically) encourages people NEVER to use anything but their monopoly products. If you even TRY to install a 3rd party app store, the phone will put up a large warning screen claiming how terribly bad this choice would be for the user, their phone, and (probably) their family and pets. Android does as well, but it's a lot smaller and easier to bypass. Install the free Android dev tools and you can install anything you can find.
It's easy to claim no demand, when you
Re: No demand for a 3rd-party app store in the EU? (Score:3)
It would be a huge bonus for small developers like me. On android I have to pay $20 once and I can submit as many apps as I like don't have to care about them making profit just that they're useful. Apple I have to pay $99 a year. That's a lot for apps that aren't designed to make money.
Of course it's political (Score:2)
How dare those nasty Europeans. Who do they think they are? The gall of mixing self-serving economic considerations into their politics, judicial system and regulatory rules? It's not like the global hegemon *ever* does anything like that....
I say this as a proud US citizen. Pot, meet kettle.
What Are The Facts? (Score:2)
I can't help but feel that:
The EU commission ordered Apple to drop the $0.59 charge.
Apple responded: OK but can we charge this instead?
The EU is fining Apple for not following the order, to drop the charge. And, by the way, the EU commission hasn't answered the question.
Apple is saying that it's not their fault for not dropping it because the EU won't answer their question.
If this is the case, then Apple doesn't have a leg to stand on. The crazy girlfriend gambit ain't gonna work in an EU court.
Follow the o
Who can tell? (Score:2)
At this point is Apple being honest, or is it just creating a narrative it knows the current US administration can use to make US-Euro relations even worse, knowing Europe doesn't want that?
Regardless though, it shouldn't have taken government action to get Apple to a position where it doesn't act as a gatekeeper for how people are allowed to use the devices they bought and own.
Re: (Score:1)
> At this point is Apple being honest, or is it just creating a narrative it knows the current US administration can use to make US-Euro relations even worse, knowing Europe doesn't want that?
The EU probably does want worse relations with the US... the narative that "The US is steamrolling all you helpless tiny European countries" bolsters the EU's power even further. Honestly, it's all heading towards authoritarianism at this point; dark times.