Apple Opens Brazil App Stores to Rivals

Apple has initiated significant changes for developers in Brazil, permitting them to distribute iOS applications through alternative app stores and manage payments for digital goods and services independently of the App Store. These revisions align with agreements made with Brazil's competition regulator, Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE), and follow similar adjustments made in the European Union and Japan. This development represents a further loosening of Apple's long-standing control over its iOS app ecosystem, a trend influenced by regulatory pressures and legal challenges globally. For instance, in the U.S., Apple now allows developers to offer external payment options following the Epic Games lawsuit. The new Brazilian framework introduces crucial protections, including a notarization process for apps outside the App Store, authorization requirements for new marketplaces, and protocols to protect minors from inappropriate content and fraudulent schemes. Developers operating in Brazil must accept these updated terms by July 6, 2026. Apple has also updated its Developer Program License Agreement to include a 5% Core Technology Commission (CTC) fee for apps distributed through various channels, including alternative marketplaces.