Apple Updates U.S. App Review Guidelines Following Epic Games Ruling

[MacRumors]

In the wake of yesterday's court ruling in the dispute between Apple and Epic Games over Apple's policies restricting developers' ability to inform users about alternatives to making purchases through Apple's in-app purchasing system, Apple has updated its App Review Guidelines to comply with the ruling.

Apple summarized the changes in an email to developers today:

3.1.1: Apps on the United States storefront are not prohibited from including buttons, external links, or other calls to action when allowing users to browse NFT collections owned by others.

3.1.1(a): On the United States storefront, there is no prohibition on an app including buttons, external links, or other calls to action, and no entitlement is required to do so.

3.1.3: The prohibition on encouraging users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase does not apply on the United States storefront.

3.1.3(a): The External Link Account entitlement is not required for apps on the United States storefront to include buttons, external links, or other calls to action.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple must immediately comply with the ruling even as the company moves to appeal.

The changes are currently limited to the United States given the scope of the court case, but Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney offered a "peace proposal" pledging to drop all remaining litigation against Apple over the issue if Apple were to implement the required U.S. changes on a worldwide basis. Apple has so far given no indication that it is interested in accepting that proposal.

Following the court ruling and with Apple's policy changes, major app developers are already moving to make it easier for users to purchase or subscribe to content outside of the App Store, with Spotify already submitting an app update, Patreon indicating that it will do so, and Epic Games saying that it will bring Fortnite back to the U.S. App Store.

Article Link: Apple Updates U.S. App Review Guidelines Following Epic Games Ruling

 

[GizmoDVD]

Can’t wait for parents to not know how to cancel subscriptions on these out of bounds websites and try and blame Apple.

 

[UliBaer]

I predict: The world will not implode because of that!

 

[Paddle1]

Curious how this is going to work. Will developers have to make US and non-US versions of their apps?

 

[damienDevZ]

Curious how this is going to work. Will developers have to make US and non-US versions of their apps?

Good point, hadn’t even thought of that. Or we’re going to see all apps become free apps with in app-purchases to avoid the fee.

 

[TMRJIJ]

I can imagine Google and Microsoft doing the same in the coming months.

I could also imagine Apple raising the price for their Developers Program…or they could be petty and charge for API usage.

 

[User 6502]

It’s nice to see Apple capitulating on all fronts. Greed and arrogance shall be punished.

 

[koelsh]

Can’t wait for parents to not know how to cancel subscriptions on these out of bounds websites and try and blame Apple.

Probably the same way they already deal with the Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, casino, Chuck E Cheese, McDonalds, DoorDash, and other subscriptions and purchases when they give their kids unsupervised credit card access.

 

[spercharged69]

This is such a slam dunk for developers. These web-based payment portals are just as easy as buying things through the App Store. Most (all?) support Apple Pay and it’s super easy.

 

[koelsh]

Probably the same way they already deal with the Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, casino, Chuck E Cheese, McDonalds, DoorDash, Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, PubG, COD, and other subscriptions and purchases when they give their kids unsupervised credit card access.

Edit: edit, edit: that was supposed to be an edit but guess I hit reply...


Let's keep going Micro Center, Target, (whatever replaced Toys R Us), Twitch, Newegg, Apple.com, Lego, Funko Pop, Gamestop....

Ok, I'm also getting bored of thinking of stores kids might want to buy stuff from with unfettered credit card access.

 

[dumastudetto]

It’s nice to see Apple capitulating on all fronts. Greed and arrogance shall be punished.

This is a temporary setback for Apple. They have already confirmed they will appeal, and they are going to throw everything at this terrible decision - a decision threatens the very existence of one of Americas greatest corporations of all-time, and risks costing consumers billions through fraud and misleading sales techniques.

 

[spercharged69]

Edit: edit, edit: that was supposed to be an edit but guess I hit reply...


Let's keep going Micro Center, Target, (whatever replaced Toys R Us), Twitch, Newegg, Apple.com, Lego, Funko Pop, Gamestop....

Ok, I'm also getting bored of thinking of stores kids might want to buy stuff from with unfettered credit card access.

No, no, don’t you see? We must not allow anyone outside of the walled garden to exclusively protect this hypothetical person who is too stupid to know how their own credit card works.

 

[Starfia]

It’s nice to see Apple capitulating on all fronts. Greed and arrogance shall be punished.

I suppose I wish you well in being invested mainly to witness suffering, but this entire thing was just one of ten of the counts dealt with in the original suit and trial, the other nine of which the judge found in favour of Apple. (But you can still enjoy the suffering of Epic on those other nine – Mr Sweeney indeed never seems to have stopped complaining.)

 

[GylesM]

Can’t wait for parents to not know how to cancel subscriptions on these out of bounds websites and try and blame Apple.

Glad my kids are grown and on their own. Good luck you silly people 😂

 

[alfonsog]

Edit: edit, edit: that was supposed to be an edit but guess I hit reply...


Let's keep going Micro Center, Target, (whatever replaced Toys R Us), Twitch, Newegg, Apple.com, Lego, Funko Pop, Gamestop....

Ok, I'm also getting bored of thinking of stores kids might want to buy stuff from with unfettered credit card access.

My nephew got a hold of one of my credit cards from my home office drawer when he was 12. I was in Europe on vacation for a month at the time (my brother lives next door to me). He created his own amazon account and charged $5,000 worth of stuff; his parents only noticed when all the packages started arriving at their house. They only were able to return about $3,000 worth of the items. He's 15 now and they never punished him for anything so he's spoiled rotten. And I got a safe.

 

[MikhailT]

It’s nice to see Apple capitulating on all fronts. Greed and arrogance shall be punished.

This isn't capitulating, Apple is being legally forced to do this after failing their appeals in both the appeal court and the supreme court. This is a court ruling finding them in violation of not following the original court ruling.

They are still appealing this ruling, so they're not capitualating, they're still being a bitch aboout it. Notice they're limiting this to US store only, they're still requiring the same limitations on other stores, just not US.

 

[ThailandToo]

I predict: The world will not implode because of that!

Tim Crook’s mind may explode. Who can he pay off this time?

 

[klasma]

Let's hope that other regions will be picking up on this.

 

[ThailandToo]

This isn't capitulating, Apple is being legally forced to do this after failing their appeals in both the appeal court and the supreme court. This is a court ruling finding them in violation of not following the original court ruling.

They are still appealing this ruling, so they're not capitualating, they're still being a bitch aboout it. Notice they're limiting this to US store only, they're still requiring the same limitations on other stores, just not US.

Regulation is the only way to stop anticompetitive practices in capitalist socioeconomic sectors.

 

[svish]

Good to know about the changes. It is good that customers are given an option to purchase from outside. However it might be an issue during subscription cancellations and when trying to get a refund.

 

[ThailandToo]

Let's hope that other regions will be picking up on this.

No longer time to allow big companies to dictate the world. Today is a good day for Apple customers; the problem is Tim Crook’s AAPL will always find a way to make the shareholders win as that’s the only way Tim makes his fortune.

 

[DocMultimedia]

I predict: The world will not implode because of that!

The world won't implode, but there is a good chance homo sapiens might be gone in the next few years. Nuclear war can cause some bad stuff.

 

[pamon]

Another reason why apple and Tim cook is hurting thebrand. In Europe they were withholding making changes and the commissioners forced apple to change and now a judge practically embarrassed apple and is threatening criminal charges for their actions. Shame on Timmy apple

 

[TheColtr]

This is a temporary setback for Apple. They have already confirmed they will appeal, and they are going to throw everything at this terrible decision - a decision threatens the very existence of one of Americas greatest corporations of all-time, and risks costing consumers billions through fraud and misleading sales techniques.

I hope you’re being sarcastic. The company gets 50 percent of its revenue from iPhone hardware alone. If they got zero money from the AppStore they’d be just fine. This is good for customers. Apple will now have to compete with other payment processors, making the whole thing better for customers.

 

[bradriley]

Is Timmy regretting that inauguration investment yet?