Apple unveils new Core Technology Commission for non-App Store purchases

Apple has now unveiled its latest measures to avoid the €500 million (~$585 million) fine slapped upon it by the European Commission for the contravention of its Digital Market Act (DMA).

The Cupertino giant's new policies call for the introduction of a new Core Technology Commission (CTC), which equates to 5% of the sale price of all digital goods or services marketed and made available via Web Distribution, the new method by which developers can direct customers to pay for apps outside the App Store.

The CTC will be levied in addition to Apple's Core Technology Fee (CTF), a flat fee of €0.50 (~$0.59) on every download of an app with 1 million installs per year or more. 

Apple also intends to reduce its famous commissions to 17% (or 10% for developers eligible for the App Store Small Business Program and those who make subscription-based apps, but only for their first year in business) in order to incentivize the retention of apps and their payments on the company's own iOS and iPadOS Store app in the EU.

Of those liable for the new fees, Apple asserts that "less than 1%" will actually be hit by the CTF. In addition, there are a number of exemptions, whereby for example those who develop apps for educational institutions, governments or not for profit should not have to pay the fee.

That has not stopped Tim Sweeney from taking to X in order to describe Apple's new terms as "malicious compliance" with the DMA that "blatantly" fails to fulfil the company's legal obligations in either the EU or the US.

The executive also now asserts that Apple's new policies hamstring the ability of developers who want to offer alternative payment methods to make a profit on the App Store.