Apple updated the rules around its new CTF iPhone sideloading fee in the European Union to protect small developers.
Apple announced a new Core Technology Fee (CTF) a few months ago when it confirmed iPhone sideloading was coming to the European Union (EU). The fee amounts to €0.50 per app download after the first one million annual downloads. It applies to developers who want to sell apps outside the App Store in competing marketplaces or from their websites.
The CTF saw plenty of pushback, especially from some developers who seem to take the iPhone for granted and believe they shouldn’t have to pay Apple any fees for what the iPhone ecosystem does for them. However, the EU has not protested the CTF, at least not yet.
However, Apple needed to address some issues with the CTF. For example, a brand new developer creating an app that goes viral would risk going bankrupt once the CTF threshold is surpassed. Moreover, some apps are completely free, and they might end up in an immediate deficit.
Apple finally amended the CTF rules this week, giving developers more exemptions.
The CTF is an alternative to the Apple fee developers currently pay in the App Store, but it only applies to developers in Europe who want to take advantage of iPhone and iPad sideloading support.
