Apple Inc.Apple opposes UK regulator's proposal to relax app store payment rules, arguing it amounts to price regulation and could harm its business model.
Apple has pushed back against a proposal by the UK Competition and Markets Authority to relax app store payment rules, arguing it effectively amounts to price regulation and could harm innovation and investment. In June, the CMA published a proposal that would allow app developers to steer users to payment methods outside the Apple and Google app stores, and require that any steering fees be fair and reasonable. The public consultation closed on July 27. In its submission, Apple argued the proposal goes beyond promoting competition and would make the regulator highly interventionist in business operations. A CMA spokesperson countered that it is not direct price-setting, explaining that steering fees would be lower than current levels, leading to consumer savings and reinvestment by developers. According to Apple, billing and sales through its app store in the UK exceeded 46.5 billion pounds in 2025, but commission revenue accounted for less than 3.5 percent of the total, and there is no evidence that changing the payment model would lower consumer prices.
Apple Inc.Apple opposes UK regulator's proposal to relax app store payment rules, arguing it amounts to price regulation and could harm its business model.
Alphabet Inc Class CGoogle is mentioned as the other app store operator affected by the same proposal, but the article focuses on Apple's response.