iPad Accessory Integration Becomes the EU's Next Regulatory Feud With Apple

[segfaultdotorg]

First they came for the Lightning Connectors, and I did not speak out--because I was not a Lightning Connector.
Then they came for the App Store, and I did not speak out--because I was not an App Store.
Then they came for the iPad accessories, and I did not speak out--because I was not an iPad accessory.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

 

[threesixty360]

The silly thing is if Apple really wanted to sew up the market they could just cut their prices and everyone’s dead.

Right now Apple is pretty relaxed competition wise and is nowhere near trying to destroy its competition. EU companies are just incredibly weak competitors rather than Apple is stifling anyone in a major way.

 

[jarman92]

Absolutely. Easy way to raise revenue since these countries aren't generating much on their own anymore.

Just saw a chart the other day that showed, with the exception of Germany, GDP growth in the EU has been essentially flat over the last 15 years or so. Capricious and excessively burdensome regulations like the DMA are clearly some of the top reasons the bloc is stagnating.

 

[andrewxgx]

It seems the EU only target Apple and American companies.

nope, their biggest fine ever was against VW

 

[Jim Lahey]

EU and its ilk absolutely will not stop, ever, until they have complete control of absolutely everything on the planet. Including you.

 

[nicolas_s]

EU: do this or we'll fine you 10% of your global revenue
Apple: okay
EU: do this or we'll fine you 10% of your global revenue
Apple: okay
EU: do this or we'll fine you 10% of your global revenue
Apple: okay

Complying won't change anything. They want that 10% global revenue. It's never gonna stop until Apple decide to do something about it.

 

[840quadra]

There aren't any EU computer companies left to target. The EU advisers, one of which I know, used to work for large electronics and computer manufacturers in the EU in a management capacity. They sold them out to the Chinese and the Americans to fill their retirement funds up and now sit on the advisory side of this lording it around.

They should investigate Philips management, in the EU, who sold out all the UK and European electronic manufacturing to start with.

Some could argue that ARM is a gatekeeper as well, but their products fall outside of what is being regulated in the current DMA.

 

[TruthWatcher412]

EU: do this or we'll fine you 10% of your global revenue
Apple: okay
EU: do this or we'll fine you 10% of your global revenue
Apple: okay
EU: do this or we'll fine you 10% of your global revenue
Apple: okay

Complying won't change anything. They want that 10% global revenue. It's never gonna stop until Apple decide to do something about it.

Still dont understand why it's global revenue and not EU revenue. What Apple does in non-EU markets isn't covered by EU law so why should they owe money that they made in the US following US law?

 

[Wando64]

You know, I would just leave the market and tell the EU to piss off. The folks can inport the devices they want without all the toddler's nonsense.

Yes, losing 25% of their global revenue.
That makes a lot of sense.

Apple Statistics — Users, Devices, and Revenue (2025)

Apple in 2025: 2.2B active devices, $383B annual revenue, 17% smartphone market share, 3.84M App Store apps, 89.8M Apple Music subscribers.

backlinko.com

 

[cjsuk]

Still dont understand why it's global revenue and not EU revenue. What Apple does in non-EU markets isn't covered by EU law so why should they owe money that they made in the US following US law?

It stops them relocating the business outside of the EU and using shell companies to transact through then.

 

[sw1tcher]

It seems the EU only target Apple and American companies.

It can seem that way if you live outside of Europe and/or don't follow the news from within Europe. But they've gone after European companies plenty of times.

It's also possible European companies are more aware of their laws and are doing their best to stay off the EU's radar.

 

[surferfb]

Yes, losing 25% of their global revenue.
That makes a lot of sense.

Apple Statistics — Users, Devices, and Revenue (2025)

Apple in 2025: 2.2B active devices, $383B annual revenue, 17% smartphone market share, 3.84M App Store apps, 89.8M Apple Music subscribers.

backlinko.com

You would leave the European market and leave behind 25 percent (or more) of your annual sales? Good thing someone like Tim Cook, who is not known to make rash impulsive decisions, is still in charge.

Europe brought in $101.328 Billion in sales for Apple's fiscal year 2024. That's 25.9 percent of total revenue.

Again, while Apple isn't going to leave the EU, the EU does not make up 25% of their global revenue, more like 8-10%.

Apple's "Europe" segment includes the EU, all non-EU European countries (UK, Switzerland, etc.), the Middle East, India, and Africa.

 

[blcamp]

Next step.
EU will require Apple to allow Android to be installed and supported without affecting a warranty .

Would they also force Android devices to allow iOS/iPadOS?

Would they require Macs to allow Windows (without Boot Camp) or force PCs to allow Android or macOS?

What's next, forcing car batteries to be connected to the car via Thunderbolt (USB-C)?

How about we force a complete switchover of wall outlets to USB-C?

Where does this lunacy end...?

 

[rgeneral]

What if EU mandates Apple to put MacOS on the iPad 😃😃

 

[ducknalddon]

It seems the EU only target Apple and American companies.

You should look at the fines America hands out to foreign banks vs locals. This is a game everybody is playing.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Friendly reminder that iPadOS does not meet the quantitative thresholds defined in the DMA that determine whether or not the law applies to it, but the EU declared iPadOS as a gatekeeper that the DMA applies to anyway.

This is my number one problem with everything the EU is doing regarding Apple. None of it is actual law, very little of it is based on actual existing damages and problems. It all seems to be political grandstanding by a few specific politicians. At first I thought it was more than that but as time has gone by it has become more and more clear that no, it isn't. Just appointed politicians scoring easy points/money by attacking American tech companies.

They don't seem interested in actually making anything better, just in giving Apple a hard time.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Still dont understand why it's global revenue and not EU revenue. What Apple does in non-EU markets isn't covered by EU law so why should they owe money that they made in the US following US law?

They shouldn't. That's the whole point. Everything they do is ********.

 

[sw1tcher]

You would leave the European market and leave behind 25 percent (or more) of your annual sales? Good thing someone like Tim Cook, who is not known to make rash impulsive decisions, is still in charge.

Europe brought in $101.328 Billion in sales for Apple's fiscal year 2024. That's 25.9 percent of total revenue.

Again, while Apple isn't going to leave the EU, the EU does not make up 25% of their global revenue, more like 8-10%.

Apple's "Europe" segment includes the EU, all non-EU European countries (UK, Switzerland, etc.), the Middle East, India, and Africa.

I did not say the EU makes up 25% of Apple's global revenue. I said Europe does. Specifically, I stated that "Europe brought in $101.328 Billion in sales for Apple's fiscal year 2024. That's 25.9 percent of total revenue."

 

[I7guy]

You would leave the European market and leave behind 25 percent (or more) of your annual sales? Good thing someone like Tim Cook, who is not known to make rash impulsive decisions, is still in charge.

Europe brought in $101.328 Billion in sales for Apple's fiscal year 2024. That's 25.9 percent of total revenue.

Only if the EU was going to bleed you dry, open sup a can of worms for the ecosystem, make up rules based on the phase of the moon. And so forth.

 

[surferfb]

I did not say the EU makes up 25% of Apple's global revenue. I said Europe does. Specifically, I stated that "Europe brought in $101.328 Billion in sales for Apple's fiscal year 2024. That's 25.9 percent of total revenue."

And I am clarifying for others who read this, that the EU makes up a much smaller percentage, since we are talking about an EU law that only applies in the EU. No one is suggesting Apple pull out of the UK, India, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc., etc. etc. etc. because of the DMA.

Again, Apple isn't going to pull out of the EU, but knowing that they're around 10% of Apple's global revenue makes it clear how absolutely absurd the EU's fine structure is.

 

[gaximus]

There aren't any EU computer companies left to target.

Nope, they were regulated out of business.

 

[Spock]

"We want to be able to run Windows 95 on it!"
-The EU next month, probably.

Don't give them any ideas, they will want Apple to allow third party operating systems. Microsoft should be able to install Windows on the iPad..

 

[jz0309]

Bureaucrats “regulating” technology is a disaster effort and will harm users in the long run, regardless of the location.
As my father told me, and he was absolutely right: put politicians of any party in a sack, beat on the sack with a bat and you will always hit the right guy…

 

[Realityck]

What if EU mandates Apple to put MacOS on the iPad 😃😃

Too many iPads that lack the necessary processor and memory out there.

 

[Manzanito]

Ok, the app store and usb-c I could understand and support, even though I do not intend to use alternate app stores, but this I don’t get.

Aren’t there like tons of third party accesories already available?