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Apple announces App Store changes in the EU

(9to5mac.com)
79 points saubeidl | 4 comments | 26 Jun 25 19:54 UTC | HN request time: 0.225s | source
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fxtentacle ◴[26 Jun 25 20:31 UTC] No.44391021[source]▶
"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."

Reading that made me very happy. It clearly shows that EU bureaucrats - despite their bad reputation - still have teeth when it comes to reigning in overly greedy US companies. Back in '98, the EU versions of Windows were very desirable, as they were free of bloatware. Soon, history might repeat with US consumers pretending to be in the EU to free their hardware.

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dlachausse ◴[26 Jun 25 21:02 UTC] No.44391332[source]▶
As an independent developer, I wish the EU would reverse their decision to make me either doxx myself or not have paid apps in the EU App Store. Thankfully, right now my only app is free so I can get away with saying that I'm not a trader.

I'll probably just have to bite the bullet and form an LLC with a rented address and phone number once I get ready to release a paid app, which unfortunately just increases my costs even more for what is most likely to remain just a small side hustle.

I still don't see a good reason why independent developers like me should have to publish their personal address and phone number on the App Store. I'm not willing to put my family in danger like that.

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1. tfourb ◴[26 Jun 25 21:29 UTC] No.44391634[source]▶
>I'll probably just have to bite the bullet and form an LLC with a rented address and phone number once I get ready to release a paid app, which unfortunately just increases my costs even more for what is most likely to remain just a small side hustle.

This is actually still not a valid solution. You'll have to provide an address where you can be physically reached, even if you publish your app as an LLC (at least under German law). A "rented" address won't fulfill that criteria. If you run your LLC out of your personal home, you'll need to publish your personal address (again, under German law, it may be different in other EU countries).

This does make sense in principle, as it allows your customers to actually track you down in case they feel the need to sue you.

You might get away with listing the address of a co-working space, if you are actually physically present at that address during normal business hours.

You might also get away with listing your legal name and the address of your lawyer. But your lawyer would need to agree with this and you'd have to have an arrangement in place that they will represent you in any and all future cases, which might be difficult. This doesn't seem to be a settled question in german jurisprudence.

Also, you could just chance it. Not listing an address will simply result in potential exposure to a cease and desist letter, which (under German law) only results in limited financial liability. I am not a lawyer, so please get a professional to check, but if you are really serious about not exposing your personal address, it might be simpler and cheaper to run the low risk of a cease and desist instead of making a big fuss about an alternative address.

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2. lapcat ◴[26 Jun 25 22:25 UTC] No.44392089[source]▶
German law is basically irrelevant unless you're in Germany. All that matters is what Apple makes App Store developers do, and Apple doesn't give a crap as long as you have some address and some phone number that Apple can verify.

Apple doesn't even police the "trader" self-declaration. I've seen several (scam) developers in the App Store who are clearly traders but have declared that they're not traders in the EU. Apple's compliance here is mostly perfunctory.

3. Aloisius ◴[26 Jun 25 22:39 UTC] No.44392173[source]▶
The company can be reached at a rented address. That's the whole point of them. There is an agent at the address that can receive things like legal correspondence.

It appears Germany appears has similar services where you can get a virtual business addresses at business centers.

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4. tfourb ◴[27 Jun 25 04:42 UTC] No.44393759[source]▶
Under German law you need a “ladungsfähige” address, which a rented address is explicitly not. You need to be physically present at that address as a person.