Apple Escalates EU Feud Over Setapp Shutdown Amid DOCA Enforcement Dispute

The escalating conflict between Apple and European regulators has entered a new phase as Apple publicly accused the European Commission of employing "political delay tactics" in their enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DOCA). This accusation comes amid reports that regulators are preparing to formally blame Apple for the shutdown of the Setapp alternative app marketplace—a case that highlights the fundamental disagreements about what constitutes fair competition in the European digital ecosystem.

Setapp, developed by MacPaw, attempted to launch an alternative iOS app marketplace in April 2025 under DOCA's provisions requiring Apple to allow third-party app stores. Apple blocked the launch citing security concerns about Setapp's validation processes, arguing the platform failed to adequately screen developers or verify app integrity. The European Commission reportedly views this rejection as anti-competitive maneuvering, with an investigation now examining whether Apple violated DOCA's requirement to enable viable third-party marketplaces.

Apple's legal team contends the Commission is deliberately delaying approval of Apple's updated DOCA compliance proposal—which includes new fees and technical requirements for alternative stores—to manufacture grounds for penalties. "These procedural delays suggest a predetermined outcome rather than good-faith regulatory oversight," an Apple representative stated, arguing their security protocols are necessary to protect users from malware and fraud that third-party stores might introduce.

Counter-perspectives emerge from multiple angles. Developers point to DOCA's Article 6(4), which mandates that gatekeepers cannot "unfairly restrict" third-party stores without justification. "Apple's security argument feels like a smokescreen when their own App Store has faced malware incidents," noted a Brussels-based digital policy analyst. "The Commission must determine whether Apple's security thresholds are genuinely protective or strategically prohibitive."

Meanwhile, regulatory experts highlight the tension between innovation and control. While Apple maintains its ecosystem security prevents iOS from becoming fragmented like Android's marketplace landscape, critics argue DOCA was specifically designed to disrupt Apple's walled garden. "This isn't about security versus competition—it's about whether Apple gets to define both," said a competition law professor at the College of Europe. "The Commission's response will set precedent for how much control platform holders retain."

The Setapp case reveals deeper implications for DOCA's future. If Apple faces fines—which could reach 10% of global revenue—it may prompt other tech giants to challenge regulatory interpretations. Conversely, if the Commission accepts Apple's security rationale, alternative stores could become functionally impossible to launch. With Epic Games also awaiting approval for its iOS store and Microsoft exploring an EU games marketplace, the outcome could reshape app distribution across the continent.

As both sides dig in, the dispute underscores the DOCA's untested boundaries. Apple continues refining its compliance proposal while regulators assemble evidence about Setapp's capabilities. What remains clear is that neither party views this as merely procedural—it's a high-stakes battle over who controls the terms of competition in Europe's digital economy.