Apple is actively seeking solutions to mitigate the financial impact of the Core Technology Fee on free app developers in the European Union, as reported by @ChanceHMiller and @hillitech. This fee, as it currently stands, poses a significant risk of bankruptcy to developers of free apps due to its potential financial burden. Apple's efforts include working on a solution to prevent such adverse effects, especially for apps that may go unexpectedly viral. The company has also been in discussions with the European Commission (EC) regarding the notarization of alternative apps and has outlined its commission's rationale, citing distribution, discovery, promotion, and trust. Additionally, Apple has implemented $1M and 2M alt store rules to prevent rip-and-run scams on users. Apple has advised free app developers in the EU to 'stay tuned' for upcoming solutions to this challenge.