Apple’s App Store Rules Update: More Links, More Caveats
Apple Updated App Store Rules This Week to Comply with Court Order After Supreme Court Rejects Epic Games' Antitrust Case
Apple’s new App Store rules on external payments won’t apply to video and news partners.
📢 Attention all developers and app enthusiasts! Apple has made some changes to its App Store rules 📱💥 After the recent Supreme Court decision refusing to hear Epic Games’ case against Apple, the tech giant was ordered to remove the “anti-steering” clause from its developer agreement. This clause had previously prevented developers from directing users to external links or buttons within their apps for alternative payment options. However, Apple’s compliance comes with a twist, introducing a complicated application process and a list of criteria for apps eligible to use the new Link Entitlement 😱.
Apple’s StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement: Enter the Red Tape Maze 👣
Apple has a history of using entitlements to establish exceptions to its App Store rules. Last year, it allowed “reader” apps to direct users to external websites, and it also made an exception for dating apps in the Netherlands. Similarly, Apple’s new Link Entitlement sets specific criteria for developers to include external links and gives Apple the authority to evaluate the implementation. 🕵️♀️
Upon applying for the Link Entitlement, developers must provide detailed information about their app, such as its unique identifier (bundle ID), the desired link, and the website domain. Apple emphasizes that the website should be owned or responsibly maintained by the developer, ensuring that payment mechanisms are housed on the developer’s own website. Apple is serious about this, folks – no dropping customers directly onto a PayPal payment screen! Sorry, PayPal. 😬
Inhibition vs. Protection: Scare Screens and Other Mandates
As part of Apple’s ongoing commitment to user protection, it is allowed to take steps against new threats emerging from external payment processing. One measure Apple has taken is showcasing “scare screens” to discourage users from making transactions outside the App Store. It’s their way of saying, “We got your back, folks!” 😰
Additionally, Apple requires payment processors to meet industry standards, offering users ways to dispute unauthorized transactions, manage subscriptions, and request refunds – a move we can appreciate in the fight against subscription scams. 🦸♀️
Something’s Fishy: Apple Video and News Partner Programs Left Out 🎥📰
Now, this is where things get interesting. Apple specifically excludes apps participating in the Apple Video Partner Program and the News Partner Program from enjoying the Link Entitlement. 😮 These programs, which already benefit from a reduced commission rate of 15%, still need to follow the rules of their respective programs. They don’t get to join the party of marketing their own payment links within the app like others do. 🤷♀️
Apple’s Entitlement Rules: Choose Your Location, Speak Wisely 💬
To ensure a balanced approach, Apple has set specific restrictions on how developers can present alternative payment mechanisms. Developers can only display the link on one page that the user navigates to, under the condition that it is a dedicated location and does not persist beyond that page. 📃 Apple provides compliant templates for developers to display a discount or a special price via the link but cautions against making subjective claims about their own payment mechanisms. This is Apple’s way of saying, “Please, no trash-talking while using our platform!” 😝
The Devil Is in the Fees: A Whopping 27% Commission for External Purchases 💸
And now for the big reveal! Despite offering the option for alternative payment methods, Apple has devised a plan that potentially deters developers from using the Link Entitlement at all, especially if they have their own payment processing systems in place. Why, you ask? Well, Apple has decided to slap a 27% commission on purchases made within 7 days of users tapping through an external link. Ouch! 💔 This hefty fee makes it more cost-effective for developers to stick with Apple’s standard 30% commission for in-app purchases instead of venturing into the external link territory. Clever move, Apple! 🙌
Epic Games and Spotify Aren’t Impressed 😒
It comes as no surprise that Epic Games, Spotify, and the Coalition for App Fairness (a lobbying group for app developers) have taken issue with Apple’s compliance with the court ruling. Epic Games has labeled it “bad faith” compliance, while Spotify has gone for “outrageous” and “abusive.” 💣 But let’s face it, folks, Apple’s lawyers know their stuff, and they’ve played it legal this time. It might not be what everyone hoped for, but it is what it is. 🤷♂️
Q&A: Answering Your Burning Questions
Q: How do developers apply for the Link Entitlement? A: Developers must provide Apple with specific details about their app, including the unique identifier, desired link, and website domain.
Q: Can developers link directly to a payment processor like PayPal? A: No, developers must direct users to their own websites where payment mechanisms are hosted.
Q: What measures has Apple taken to protect users from external payment processing threats? A: Apple has implemented “scare screens” to discourage users from making transactions outside the App Store.
Q: Why are apps in the Apple Video and News Partner Programs excluded from the Link Entitlement? A: These programs have their own rules that app developers must follow and, therefore, cannot market their own payment links within the app.
Q: Can developers make subjective claims about their competing payment mechanisms? A: No, Apple prohibits developers from making subjective claims in order to maintain a fair and balanced environment for all developers.
🔍 In-Depth Analysis and Future Developments: So, What’s Next?
As Apple complies with the court ruling, the tech industry continues to watch and speculate on the future developments of this new framework. Will Apple face more legal battles? Will developers find loopholes in the system? Only time will tell! 🕰️
To stay up to date on this topic and continue exploring the ever-evolving world of technology, here are some useful links:
- Original App Store innovator Clear relaunches swipeable list app with in-app perks
- Supreme Court declines to hear Apple-Epic antitrust case
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- Apple releases new versions of TestFlight, Xcode, and Vision Pro
- Apple Music vs. Spotify: The Ultimate Music Streamer
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- Baldur’s Gate 3 devs show off the cut Norm
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