Apple Appeals EU’s €500 Million Fine Over App Store Practices, Calling Decision Overreaching

Apple has formally appealed a €500 million ($586 million) fine imposed by the European Union, arguing that the penalty and the European Commission’s ruling over its App Store practices go “far beyond what the law requires.”

The case, now brought before the EU’s General Court, marks a significant test of the bloc’s new tech regulation powers under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The fine, issued in April, stemmed from the Commission’s conclusion that Apple had violated its anti-steering obligations by limiting app developers’ ability to inform users about alternative and potentially cheaper purchase options outside the App Store.

In its statement on Monday, Apple described the decision as “unprecedented,” criticizing Brussels for forcing it to implement “confusing” business terms that the company says harm both developers and users.

“The [European Commission] is mandating how we run our store and forcing business terms which are confusing for developers and bad for users,” Apple said, maintaining that it made recent changes to its App Store policies to comply with the DMA and avoid further daily fines.

The dispute centers on whether Apple’s control over in-app payment communications violates the EU’s competition rules. Regulators argue that by restricting how developers promote external offers, Apple undermines fair market access and limits consumer choice.

In response to the Commission’s findings, Apple introduced new App Store fee structures and concessions. However, it now accuses the EU of overstepping by expanding the definition of “steering” and altering its expectations during the process. The Commission, meanwhile, has stated it will defend its decision in court.

This is one of the first major enforcement actions under the DMA, a landmark law that aims to curb the market dominance of so-called “gatekeepers” — large digital platforms like Apple, Meta, and Google. The law allows fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover for non-compliance.

Technology analyst Paolo Pescatore described Apple’s appeal as “widely expected,” suggesting the case could establish critical precedents for how digital markets are regulated in Europe. He also noted the complexity of implementing major operational and commercial changes to long-standing platforms such as the App Store.

Industry lawyer Tom Smith, formerly of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, said the legal challenge was part of Apple’s broader strategy to resist structural changes to its business model.

“It is worth spending a few million on legal fees to delay the development of a more open app ecosystem,” he said.

Apple’s legal battle comes amid growing friction between US tech giants and European regulators. The administration of President Donald Trump has criticized the EU’s tech regulation approach, likening fines to a form of “taxation” on American firms. Trump has indicated that EU treatment of companies like Apple and Meta could influence upcoming trade negotiations, with tariffs on the table if no agreement is reached.

Apple has also claimed that the Commission’s enforcement amounts to forcing it to “give away our technology for free,” and that changes in regulatory expectations during negotiations had “moved the goal posts.”

With input from BBC, CNBC, and the Guardian.