Competition & Platform Regulation: Distribution Under Scrutiny

(DMA, DSA)The Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act have moved decisively into their enforcement phase, reshaping how software is distributed, ranked, and monetized across digital platforms. For companies operating app stores, marketplaces, or distribution-dependent business models, regulatory risk now sits squarely at the intersection of product design and commercial strategy.DMA enforcement is altering long-standing practices around steering, self-preferencing, and payment models. Gatekeepers face direct constraints, but the ripple effects extend to developers and platform participants who must adapt to new rules and opportunities. DSA enforcement, meanwhile, is focusing on systemic risk management, transparency, and user protection—particularly for very large online platforms.Compliance in this environment is not static. It requires continuous monitoring, documentation, and internal alignment. Design decisions that influence ranking, recommendation, or monetization can carry regulatory implications. Transparency obligations demand credible reporting, not generic disclosures.Software companies that proactively assess how their products and distribution models intersect with DMA and DSA expectations are better positioned to adapt without disruption. Those that wait for enforcement actions risk reactive change under regulatory pressure.