Apple has made a groundbreaking concession to the European Union's Digital Markets Act by allowing EU developers to sell iPhone apps directly from their websites, a move that marks a significant shift from its previous stance. This development comes after Apple's initial plan to comply with the EU regulations faced criticism, prompting the tech giant to revisit its approach based on feedback from the EU developer community.
Under the new system, named "Web Distribution," developers will be able to distribute their iOS apps to EU users through their own websites starting later this spring, following a software update. To facilitate this process, Apple has committed to providing authorized developers with access to necessary APIs, enabling features such as app distribution from the web, integration with system functionalities, backup and restoration of users' apps, among other capabilities.
However, to qualify for direct web sales, developers must adhere to specific business terms similar to those required for creating a third-party marketplace on iOS. This includes being a member of the Apple Developer Program for at least two consecutive years and having apps that have achieved over a million first installs annually within the EU. Additionally, apps distributed in this manner must be notarized, and developers are obligated to be transparent about their data collection practices.
Apple's revised policy also outlines that it will conduct minimal initial reviews of apps sold through web distribution and may not perform subsequent checks. The company will not be involved in managing refunds, resolving disputes, or protecting users from data misuse under this scheme. Moreover, developers are responsible for adhering to local laws and cooperating with government requests for app takedowns.
In another update to its compliance with the Digital Markets Act, Apple has allowed marketplace operators the option to offer catalogs consisting exclusively of their own apps, diverging from the assumption that rival app stores would host a variety of applications. Additionally, while Apple previously mandated the use of specific wording and templates for linking out to external purchases, these are now recommended but optional.
