DMA: Apple fürchtet EU-Milliardenstrafe – und passt Geschäftsmodell an

Apple, the US tech giant, is adjusting its business model to comply with EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations, aiming to avoid a potential billion-dollar fine, according to a statement released on Tuesday evening. The company hopes these changes will resolve disputes with the EU Commission over business conditions and alternative distribution channels.

The DMA, which began enforcement in July, imposed the largest fine on Apple, amounting to $1 billion, as part of its efforts to strengthen antitrust laws. Prior to this, Apple received a €500 million fine in April 2025 for obstructing developers from pointing users to more favorable offers outside its App Store. In 2025, Apple reached a record revenue of $416 billion.

The company's new conditions will apply from October, aiming to simplify matters by imposing uniform business conditions on all developers distributing apps in the EU. The EU Commission welcomed these amendments, stemming from a thorough dialogue between the commission and Apple. Despite these changes, the EU can still impose fines for past misconduct.

The DMA mandates that dominant companies allow competition and refrain from excluding smaller businesses from the market. US President Donald Trump had previously threatened retaliation against Google, sparking multiple delays in the EU Commission's proceedings over Google's alleged preference for its own search services and hindering developers from pointing users to better offers outside Google Play Store.

The EU aims to strengthen antitrust laws through the DMA, requiring dominant companies to permit competition and refrain from excluding smaller enterprises from the market. As of now, the EU believes the decision is making a significant impact, with Apple adjusting its system settings to prevent other market players from being hindered.