Australia’s Federal Court has ordered Apple to revamp its App Store operations by March 1, 2027, mandating changes similar to Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The ruling requires Apple to enable alternative app stores on iOS devices and significantly reduce restrictions on payments and app discovery. An extension application deadline is set for February 15, 2027 if Apple proves additional time is necessary.
The court’s massive 1,104-paragraph judgment claims Apple has engaged in anticompetitive behavior. Remedies sought aim for parity with the EU’s approach through DMA, ensuring developers and users in Australia gain more freedom in how apps are distributed and how payments are handled. These steps follow years of legal pressure from developers like Epic Games.
Key Changes Apple Must Make
Among several major directives, Apple must allow third parties such as Epic to resubmit apps like Fortnite so long as they adhere to the existing App Store guidelines. Also, Apple must permit users to discover, download, and update apps via alternative app stores, both official and third-party. Any fees or policies that restrict access to those stores are prohibited.
Developers and users must be able to use tools and APIs for distribution without discriminatory fees or conditions. Apple is also barred from enforcing its in-app purchase system exclusively—apps must be allowed to use alternative payment methods, and anti-steering policies that pressure users toward Apple’s own options are outlawed.
The decision also addresses security: any requirements on side-loaded or externally distributed apps must be proportionate to proven risks, not blanket prohibitions. Users should experience no additional barriers when installing or paying for apps outside Apple’s own store.
Timeline & Legal Hurdles Ahead
Apple must fully implement these reforms by March 1, 2027. If unable, it must petition by February 15 of that year. Previously, most major regulatory reforms in this domain came from the EU’s DMA. Australia’s court intends to replicate that framework, tailored to its local legal landscape. The ruling also orders Apple to cover 85 percent of Epic Games’ legal costs from the lawsuit. Apple is expected to appeal this decision.
This case echoes global antitrust pressures that have compelled tech giants to open up more of their platforms. It reflects a wave of regulation aiming to wrest control away from firms perceived as gatekeepers.
Why this matters: For users and developers in Australia, this ruling promises more freedom—more ways to get apps, ways to pay, and fewer restrictions from Apple’s infrastruc tural control. For Apple, this forces major changes not just in policy but in system architecture. Globally, it could intensify legal and regulatory pressure in other countries already eyeing DMA-style reforms. Expect appeals, technical negotiations, and debates about security trade-offs in the year ahead.
