Jobs’ Mob says it will not let you update your iPhone software installed by third-party app shops if you leave the European Union for over 30 days.

In a sneaky update to its support page on Thursday, Apple says you can continue using apps from other marketplaces while travelling for long periods—but you'll need to return to the EU to get the latest version.

The move is clearly a response to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which kicked in on Wednesday. Apple fanboys were told that they would "lose access to some features" when leaving the EU "for short-term travel." Apple has made this policy more specific by carving out a 30-day grace period, which could be a pain for frequent travellers.

This doesn't change your ability to use alternative app shops; however, as Apple says, you can still use third-party shops to manage apps you've already installed. Several developers are preparing to launch third-party app shops, including the enterprise app shop Mobivention and MacPaw's Setapp shop.

Epic Games might not be able to launch the game shop it's been planning, as Apple has cancelled its developer licence for being "'verifiably untrustworthy."

To reflect the changes in the Digital Markets Act, users in the European Union can install alternative app shops and apps offered through alternative app shops on iOS 17.4 or later. The country or region of your Apple ID must be set to one of the countries or regions of the European Union, and you must physically be in the European Union.

Device eligibility for alternative app shops is decided using on-device processing with only an indicator of eligibility sent to Apple. To protect your privacy, Apple does not collect your device's location.

If you leave the European Union, you can continue to open and use apps you previously installed from alternative app shops. Alternative app shops can continue updating those apps for up to 30 days after you leave the European Union, and you can continue using alternative app shops to manage previously installed apps. However, you must be in the European Union to install alternative app shops and new apps from alternative app shops.

Interestingly, it takes Apple more effort to be this petulant than it does to go along with it. We guess that its actions, along with others, to fight against the Digital Markets Act will end up in an expensive court battle with the EU, which Jobs’ Mob will lose. However, in the meantime, it will write off all its actions to its customers by blaming the EU for protecting them.