It's not just a legal dispute anymore, it's an open war on words. In consequence to the closure of an alternate Setapp Mobile store, Apple issued a sharp statement.
The Cupertino giant claims that the European Commission is deliberately blocking the implementation of amendments in iOS, utilizing "political hold tactics" to impose further "burdening fines" on the American company.
Setapp Mobile wraps sails
The spark that triggered the detonation was the decision of MacPaw's company. Ukrainian developer announced that on 16 February 2026 Setapp Mobile is closing, its alternate iOS app store in the European Union.
Reason? Officially: ‘still evolving and complicated business conditions that do not fit the Setapp business model’. simply put, the bureaucracy and fees of Apple (Core Technology Fee) made business unsettled.
For iPhone openers, it's a blow. Setapp was expected to be proof that DMA was working. His failure suggests that alternate stores in the current form are not right about existence.
Apple: “We wanted to fix it, Brussels does not allow”
The European Commission planned to usage Setapp's fall as evidence that Apple was inactive throwing logs at developers. Apple, however, warned about this decision by publishing a message in Bloomberg of different aggressive tone.
The company claims that it made a proposal to simplify the conditions (which would allegedly aid companies like MacPaw) in October 2025.
"The European Commission has refused us to implement the changes it has asked for. In October, we submitted a formal compliance plan and we inactive haven't received an answer" – Apple thunders.
It's inactive harder:
"EC uses political hold tactics to mislead public opinion, decision goal posts and unfairly attack American company with burdensome investigations and excessive fines".
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So we have a stalemate. The EU claims that Apple's terms are besides complex and discourage competition (as evidenced by the end of Setapp Mobile). Apple claims that it has prepared changes to simplify these conditions, but cannot implement them without EU agreementand the EU is silent.
Apple besides added a pin saying that ‘there is no request for alternate app stores in the EU’ and Setapp closes for business reasons alternatively than by Apple’s actions. Looking at how unpopular AltStore or Epic Games store turned out to be – there can be quite a few painful fact in this last sentence.
Apple spent US$8 million on lobbying in the EU and held 76 meetings
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