Apple eases App Store software distribution rules in the EU – SiliconANGLE

Apple Inc. today announced plans to relax some of the App Store’s software distribution rules in the European Union.

The move will make it easier for the company to comply with a pair of antitrust laws, the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, that EU lawmakers passed in 2022. The laws introduced new requirements for tech firms that operate platforms such as app marketplaces. The Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act became binding last month and last week, respectively.

The most significant change to the App Store’s rules will roll out in the spring. According to Apple, EU-based developers will gain the ability to make apps downloadable from their websites. Until recently, the company required developers to distribute iOS apps exclusively through the App Store.

Apple plans to roll out new application programming interfaces to support downloads on external webpages. According to the company, the APIs will make it possible to back up and restore data in apps distributed through developer websites. Additionally, the APIs will enable users to access information about such apps in the iOS interface before installing them. 

The company intends to make support for external downloads available to developers whose software was installed more than 1 million times in the past year. Before using a website to distribute iOS apps, the website’s operator will have to register it with the iPhone maker. Consumers, in turn, will have to grant developers who take that route permission to install apps on their devices.

The second App Store update Apple detailed today applies to third-party software marketplaces. 

Last week, the company released a new version of iOS that allows users to download apps from marketplaces other than the App Store. At the time, Apple stated that such platforms must offer apps from not only the platform’s operator but also third-party developers. Today’s update removes that requirement.

Apple is also revising its rules concerning in-app promotions. Until recently, the company placed restrictions on how iOS apps may promote offers such as subscriptions that are advertised on external websites. Those restrictions led the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, to fine the company €1.84 billion earlier this month.

The revised App Store rules allow developers in the EU to customize in-app links to external websites. Software teams may now “choose how to design promotions, discounts, and other deals.” Apps were previously limited to using a set of interface templates provided by Apple, which will continue to be available following the update as an optional developer resource. 

Image: Apple