Apple changes App Store rules in EU after being threatened with $570M fine

Apple on Thursday changed rules and fees in its App Store in the European Union after the bloc’s antitrust regulators ordered it to remove commercial barriers to sending customers outside the store.

Apple said developers will pay a 20% processing fee for purchases made via the App Store, though the fees could go as low as 13% for Apple’s small-business program.

Developers who send customers outside the App Store for payment will pay a minimum fee of 5% and at most 15%. Developers will also be able to use as many links as they wish to send users to outside forms of payment.

EU antitrust regulators ordered the iPhone maker to remove commercial barriers to sending customers outside the App Store. AFP via Getty Images

EU regulators threatened Tim Cook’s Apple with a $570 million fine. Getty Images

The changes are aimed at trying to help Apple avoid a 500 million euro ($570 million) fine threatened by EU antitrust regulators in April.

“The European Commission is requiring Apple to make a series of additional changes to the App Store. We disagree with this outcome and plan to appeal,” Apple said in a statement.