After years of litigation, the Federal Court of Australia has ordered Apple to allow alternative app stores and end anti-steering practices, mirroring the EU's Digital Markets Act. The 1,104-paragraph ruling finds Apple engaged in antitrust conduct requiring remedial action. Key mandates include permitting Epic Games to resubmit Fortnite, allowing third-party app stores for discovery and updates, banning fees or conditions that hinder alternative stores, and prohibiting anti-steering to external payment systems. Security requirements for sideloaded apps must be proportionate to defined risks. Apple must enable alternative payment processing for in-app purchases without user friction. All changes must be implemented by March 1, 2027, with evidence for extensions due by February 15. Apple is also ordered to cover 85% of Epic's trial costs and is expected to appeal.
The ruling closely aligns with the EU's DMA but includes specific provisions to prevent Apple from circumventing compliance. The court emphasized user freedom to discover, download, and update apps outside the App Store, and developers' rights to offer alternative payment methods without penalty. Apple's ability to impose conditions on tools or APIs that make alternative distribution more burdensome than iOS apps is explicitly barred.
This decision marks a significant escalation in global antitrust pressure on Apple, following similar actions in the European Union. The Australian government's intervention through targeted legislation underscores a growing international consensus on regulating dominant digital platforms. The March 2027 deadline sets a firm timeline for Apple to restructure its App Store ecosystem, with potential ripple effects across its global operations and developer relationships.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing