EGDF welcomes EU Commission's findings on Apple and Alphabet

Last week, the EU Commission imposed a fine of €500 million on Apple, among others, for violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). According to the Commission, Apple failed to comply with its obligation to allow app developers to inform users about their apps free of charge via alternative app stores, to direct users to these offers and to give them the opportunity to purchase them there. "Due to a number of restrictions imposed by Apple, app developers cannot fully benefit from the advantages of alternative distribution channels outside the App Store", the press release of the European Commission says.

Last week, the EU Commission imposed a fine of €500 million on Apple, among others, for violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). According to the Commission, Apple failed to comply with its obligation to allow app developers to inform users about their apps free of charge via alternative app stores, to direct users to these offers and to give them the opportunity to purchase them there. "Due to a number of restrictions imposed by Apple, app developers cannot fully benefit from the advantages of alternative distribution channels outside the App Store", the press release of the European Commission says.

Back in March, the EU Commission identified similar violations in preliminary investigation findings against Google and Alphabet. As these were preliminary findings, no fines were imposed at that stage.

Meanwhile, the European Games Developers Federation (EGDF) has now also commented on the proceedings. "EGDF welcomes the Commission’s preliminary findings concluding that both Apple’s and Alphabet’s current DMA compliance practices do not allow game developers to inform customers, free of charge, of alternative offers outside their mobile application stores, steer them to those offers and allow them to make purchases. EGDF fully agrees with the Commission on the fact that, due to a number of restrictions imposed by Apple and Alphabet, game developers cannot fully benefit from the advantages of alternative distribution channels outside the App Store and Google Play store", EGDF stated.

The EGDF also emphasises that parental control tools are core operating system services that Alphabet must make available to all game developers under the DMA. In addition, Apple and Alphabet should not be allowed to charge fees for purchases made outside of a game, and they must allow games downloaded from their app stores to redirect customers to third-party app stores or third-party in-game stores.

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