Let's first take a quick look back at the Apple vs. DMA case thus far. Apple needs to enable greater competition on its iOS platform in order to comply. The European Commission (EC) does not dictate what Apple should do; like with other companies to which the DMA applies, Apple must devise a plan, submit it, and the EC will determine whether it meets the requirements.
There's a nice irony here for Apple fans. This is precisely the kind of mindless back-and-forth that Apple allows developers to engage in when submitting their products for approval in the App Store.
Thus far, Apple has made it possible for independent app shops to operate on iOS devices and has loosened some of the strictest regulations. For example, it no longer mandates that app store suppliers maintain a minimum €1 million bank account that Apple may access.
This most recent attempt at DMA compliance is remarkable because it appears that Apple is now allowing the iPhone platform to mirror the Mac, allowing users to download software from any location. However, once more, it comes with a ton of restrictions that prevent any tiny developer from being able to benefit from it.
Holding the home screen of a good iPhone in one hand
The home screen of an iPhone. Hernawan Bagus / Unsplash
As annoyingly arbitrary as ever are the rules. In order to qualify, a programmer must "be a member of good standing in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more, and have an app that had more than one million first annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year."
This is obviously set up such that participation is limited to big, well-known businesses. However, Apple has the ability to bar anyone it chooses to exclude from its "good standing" status.
And now, a few of the regulations violate the DMA: According to the regulations, only entities that are "incorporated, domiciled, and/or registered in the EU," or that have subsidiaries within the EU, are qualified.
"I apologize to Apple, but having a "individual" developer account or fewer than a million EU customers on the App Store does not take away from my rights under the DMA. Steve Troughton-Smith, an iOS and Mac developer, posts on Mastodon, "This restriction just won't work."
I anticipate even more reversals this week because the entire tale is developing so quickly. Apple appears to be moving as slowly as possible in the direction of conforming with the law's spirit, which states that consumers should be able to freely install any programs they like on the pocket computers they purchase and own.
Apple's actions also demonstrate a lack of self-assurance. The App Store would still be miles ahead of everything, even if it opened the floodgates and let random, Mac-style installs for iPhone users. Because it's integrated, generally safe, easy to use, and most people already have their payment methods linked to it, these factors make it appealing to users.
"Apple mandates that the majority of developers utilize in-app purchases for various kinds of transactions. According to designer and Apple watcher Nick Heer, "it does not compete independently in the market of digital payment systems, and Apple's mandate implies little faith in IAP's niceness and familiarity to convince developers to use it." Heer writes this on his Pixel Envy blog.
It's interesting to see Apple finally receiving the same treatment it gives to others, if nothing else. The largest beneficiaries of the DMA's gradual removal of its platform lockdown will be us, the users, who will have many more options and a far better and more varied selection of software.
