Core Viewpoint - Apple has officially appealed to the EU court against a €500 million (approximately $586 million) antitrust fine imposed by the European Commission under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) [1][4]. Group 1: Antitrust Fine and Appeal - The fine is described by Apple as "unprecedented and far beyond legal authority," claiming that the EU's requirement to modify App Store operating rules is "illegal and detrimental to users and developers" [4]. - The penalty stems from an investigation into Apple's long-standing restrictions on developers directing users to third-party channels, which violates DMA regulations that require "gatekeeper" companies to allow developers to inform users about external options [4][5]. - The European Commission found that Apple prohibited developers from mentioning external subscription services within apps and charged up to 30% commission on transactions completed through third-party payment methods, referred to as the "Apple tax" [4]. Group 2: Compliance and Policy Changes - To avoid the fine, Apple is set to adjust its App Store policies in the EU by June 2025, allowing developers to direct users to external payment methods while introducing a "core technology commission" of 5% on digital transactions outside the App Store [5]. - Apple claims this tiered commission structure aims to balance compliance costs with ecosystem health, but the EU criticized it for complicating the rules [5]. - Apple's legal team argues that the EU's enforcement approach exceeds the legislative intent of the DMA, constituting excessive interference in business autonomy [5]. Group 3: Historical Context and Broader Implications - This is not Apple's first confrontation with EU regulators; in 2016, the EU ordered Apple to repay €13 billion in illegal tax benefits received in Ireland, which Apple appealed but ultimately lost in 2024 [5]. - Over the past decade, the EU has imposed over €16 billion in antitrust fines on major tech companies like Google and Meta [6].
苹果就欧盟5亿欧元《数字市场法》罚单提起上诉,称监管决定“超越法律范畴”