Apple updates how EU DMA compliance affects developers
As part of further concessions to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, Apple now says that developers don’t have to open their own App Stores, but instead can sell apps directly from their websites later this spring.
Since Apple first announced it would comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, it has faced criticism that has led to a series of changes. The company has now announced further updates and changes that it says come after feedback from EU developers.
The most significant change is that instead of creating a third-party marketplace on iOS, developers can sell their iPhone apps directly from their websites.
“Web distribution, available with a software update later this spring, will allow authorized developers to distribute their iOS apps to users in the EU directly from the developer-owned website,” Apple said. “Apple will give authorized developers access to APIs that make it easier to distribute their apps from the web, integrate with system functions, back up and restore user apps, and more.”
Developers who want to sell directly from their websites must apply for the same business terms that allow them to create third-party marketplaces on iOS. This means you have been in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more and have an app that has had more than one million initial installs per year in the EU.
Although not specifically mentioned in this latest announcement, it is likely that developers who do not meet this threshold will still need a standby letter of credit of €1 million or more.
Apps sold in this way must also be notarized, and developers must comply with requirements related to the transparency of their private data collection.
This means Apple won’t do more than a minimal review of apps initially and potentially may not review them again. They will not support users in refunds or any disputes, nor will they protect them from misuse of their data.
Such developers will also have to follow local laws and are responsible for cooperating with governments if a request to remove the application arises.
More DMA changes
Apple also announced that now “markets can choose to offer a catalog of apps exclusively from the market developer.” So where the assumption was that rival app stores would offer a range of apps, developers can now decide to operate them only as a kind of showroom for their own apps.
Previously, Apple also required developers to use their own specific wording and templates when linking to a purchase. Now, those templates and texts are still available and recommended, but Apple says they’re not required.
“When directing users to complete a transaction for digital goods or services on an external website,” Apple says, “developers can choose how to design promotions, discounts and other offers.”
Apple has detailed the requirements for direct web distribution, as well as details of other changes, on its developer blog.