Apple is changing its App Store business terms in the European Union again, with new rules that take effect October 1, according to The Verge. The company says the revision is meant to resolve its disagreements with the European Commission over business terms and alternative distribution. The central change is a move away from Apple’s earlier per-install Core Technology Fee. The Verge reports that Apple will no longer charge the €0.50 fee that applied to each annual install above 1 million, nor the initial acquisition fee or store services fee. In its place, digital transactions in apps distributed through third-party app stores or the web will carry a 5% Core Technology Commission. TechCrunch describes the change as a simplified commission structure for EU apps distributed outside the App Store, including through alternative app marketplaces or the web. That matters because Apple’s previous EU fee model had drawn criticism for complexity after the company adjusted its rules under the Digital Markets Act, the EU law aimed at large technology platforms. For apps distributed through Apple’s App Store, the new terms also reset several rates. The Verge reports that apps using Apple’s in-app purchase system will pay a 26% commission, while developers using alternative payment providers will pay 20%. The Verge also reports a 15% commission on purchases that link out from the app. TechCrunch reports that special programs can lower some of those rates. It says most developers may still qualify for a discounted 15% in-app purchase fee through programs such as the App Store Small Business Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, and Video Partner Program, and for auto-renewing subscriptions after their first year. TechCrunch also reports that apps using alternative payment processing will pay 10% if they are in one of the special programs. Apple is also allowing developers in the EU to offer both Apple in-app purchases and alternative payment systems, according to The Verge. But both outlets report a constraint: developers will have to keep their chosen payment setup for 12 months, whether they use Apple’s system, external payments, or a mix. The new terms also change alternative marketplace eligibility. TechCrunch reports that Apple is scrapping an earlier requirement tied to being a large iOS developer and adding other ways to demonstrate financial backing, including public company status, financial audits, and qualifying venture-capital funding. The Verge reports that web distribution remains EU-only and that Apple still has eligibility requirements for operating a third-party app marketplace over the web, including being publicly traded or completing a financial audit from a licensed accountant. Apple is adding child-safety limits alongside the commercial changes. The Verge reports that Kids category apps in the App Store cannot include links to websites for completing transactions, and that App Store apps cannot link out for purchases when a user is under 13. The Verge reports that users under 18 will have to get parent or guardian permission when trying to make a purchase using an alternative payment method inside an App Store app. TechCrunch reports that users under 18 will need parental approval before making purchases outside the App Store. The regulatory backdrop remains unresolved in the broader sense. The Verge notes that Apple changed its App Store rules last year to comply with the Digital Markets Act, was fined after the Commission found its anti-steering practices violated the law, and lost a bid last month to exclude the App Store and iOS from the DMA. TechCrunch reports the fine was €500 million and frames the new structure as Apple’s latest attempt to satisfy EU regulators after years of back-and-forth over fairness and complexity. Who benefits: Developers distributing outside the App Store may benefit from replacing a per-install fee with a transaction-based 5% commission. Alternative marketplace operators may also gain from the loosened eligibility paths reported by TechCrunch. Who's exposed: Developers with EU monetization strategies remain exposed to Apple’s commission structure, even when using outside distribution or alternative payments. Apps aimed at children face additional limits on external purchase flows.