After App Store ruling: Apple changes rules for US developers
In its App Review Guidelines, Apple summarizes what devs can and cannot do. The great link freedom is now coming to the USA.
Apple App Store icon: turning point thanks to ruling?
(Image: Antlii / Shutterstock.com)
Following the ruling by a US court that Apple is not entitled to a share of web purchases triggered by apps, the iPhone manufacturer has amended its App Store guidelines. In the newly updated App Review Guidelines for the American market, various things are now explicitly permitted that were previously prohibited so that Apple always received its commission of up to 30 percent. This includes an end to the "link out" ban and the rule that developers may not explicitly advertise alternative payment methods.
Judge forces Apple to implement immediately
Apple also informed its developers by email and blog post about the changes, which were made "due to a court decision in the United States". It concerns "buttons, external links and other call-to-action elements in apps", according to the company. The judge in the civil case, which has been ongoing between Apple and Epic Games for several years, stipulated that the regulations must be implemented "immediately" and severely reprimanded Apple – and forwarded the alleged false statement by an Apple manager to the public prosecutor's office.
In its amended guidelines, Apple states, among other things, that the ban on encouraging users to use a purchase method other than in-app purchase "does not apply to the US store". Furthermore, external link account entitlements, i.e. explicit approvals by Apple, are no longer required for said buttons, external links or other call-to-action elements. Apple will also no longer be allowed to charge money for "off-app purchases", which previously amounted to 27 percent (minus 3 percent for transaction costs compared to the usual 30 percent).
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Epic Games and Spotify respond
Epic Games wants to bring its games such as "Fortnite" back to the App Store, and the company also wants to provide developers with new payment methods via its own website – in the form of the "Epic Games Store Webshops". Incidentally, the publisher also wants a commission, but this is only payable on sales of one million US dollars or more per year. Apple itself charges a reduced 15 percent commission up to this amount, and 30 percent above. Epic Games always wants to see 12 percent, with 88 percent going to the developers.
The music streaming service Spotify has also already submitted a new app version that enables subscriptions to be taken out directly on the web. The company had previously discontinued in-app sales some time ago in order to avoid having to pay the Apple commission. Spotify can now show "what something actually costs" in the app and "buy or change a premium subscription with a link". In future, Spotify also wants to sell audiobooks directly and offer "other payment systems".
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