Apple has formally challenged a €500 million ($587 million) antitrust fine imposed by the European Commission, filing an appeal with the European Union’s second-highest court on July 7, 2025. The penalty stems from alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), with regulators accusing Apple of restricting app developers from directing users to more affordable subscription options outside its App Store ecosystem.
In its statement, Apple asserted that the Commission’s decision “goes far beyond what the law requires,” arguing that the imposed business terms are “confusing for developers and bad for users.” The company emphasized that its recent overhaul of App Store policies—intended to comply with the DMA—was implemented to avoid daily fines of up to 5% of its global average revenue, which could amount to nearly €50 million per day.
The Commission’s ruling, issued in April, marked one of the first major enforcement actions under the DMA, a sweeping regulatory framework designed to curb the dominance of Big Tech and foster fairer competition. Apple’s appeal signals the beginning of a high-stakes legal battle that could shape future interpretations of the DMA and influence how digital platforms operate across Europe.
As part of its compliance efforts, Apple modified its App Store rules to allow developers greater freedom in promoting alternative payment methods. However, the European Commission is still gathering feedback from developers to assess whether the changes meet regulatory expectations or require further adjustments.
The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for platform governance, developer rights, and consumer choice in the EU’s digital marketplace.
