Apple Rejects UK Bid to Open App Store Payments
*Apple told UK regulators that proposals to let developers steer users to outside payments would hand the Competition and Markets Authority direct control over pricing and product decisions.*
Apple submitted formal comments to the Competition and Markets Authority arguing that the planned rules go beyond competition goals and amount to price regulation. The CMA is weighing requirements similar to those in the European Union, which would allow developers to link out of the App Store for payments while capping the commission Apple can charge.
The regulator has said any fee Apple collects must be fair, reasonable, and lower than current rates so developers can pass savings to users. Under existing UK rules, developers cannot direct customers to external payment options at all. By contrast, the United States and European Union already permit such links under court or regulatory settlements.
Apple's Position
In its filing, Apple stated that the proposals would let the CMA dictate not only prices but also which services qualify for a commission. The company described the oversight as "highly intrusive" and claimed it would restrict the products and services for which it can charge.
Both MacRumors and AppleInsider reports confirm Apple views the measures as illegal interference in service pricing rather than neutral competition policy.
Current Landscape
Developers in the UK remain barred from steering users outside the App Store. The CMA consultation is now closed, and the regulator has not yet issued final requirements.
Why it matters
The outcome will determine whether Apple can maintain a single global App Store model or must negotiate separate payment terms in each major jurisdiction. If the CMA adopts the EU-style approach, Apple faces the same commission pressure already present in Europe, with limited ability to set its own rates. Regulators elsewhere are watching the UK process as a test case for similar interventions.
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