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U.S. Developers Can Now Offer Non-App Store Purchasing Option, But Apple Will Still Collect Commissions
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So its ok for Target to post sign inside of Walmart stating their prices are lower?
The issue with this is the app store is the ONLY way to get software on these devices. At that point it becomes extortion of sorts, because there's literally no other way to do business with a large percentage of the mobile device market.
If apps could be loaded from other stores, then Apple could sensibly charge commissions. But there's literally no other options, so at that point it becomes wrong.
Absurd? Ask Sony and Epic what they charge
apples point of view is that you still need to pay for using their intelectual property (ie. all the iOS frameworks and development tools). which is kinda BS since you can't use anything else on iOS.
Apple hosts your app, makes it discoverable on the App Store, offers API’s such as MapKit without charging extra (Google Maps has a fee), offers a degree of security where users arent afraid to purchase your in-app offers and people still think they are ripping off developers…
The only ones to benefit from this and the EU laws are big companies that have enough budget to spend on marketing and tools.
Adobe will still easily sell millions of dollars on Photoshop without the App Store, but the small dev that makes $5k a month and uses most of the money to support his house will be wiped.
The only ones to benefit from this and the EU laws are big companies that have enough budget to spend on marketing and tools.
Adobe will still easily sell millions of dollars on Photoshop without the App Store, but the small dev that makes $5k a month and uses most of the money to support his house will be wiped.
You can go buy an Android phone if you want! Competition is good! The Government should not be picking winners and losers, the free market system should do that, based on the law of supply and demand!
All of these have a competitive market. Developers could sell you directly. You can also buy second hand console games.
I may bring short-term reprieve in their legal fights.
But long-term, I suppose it will only invigorate legislators to finally pass legislation about it in the U.S. too
Yes - let developers pick the best distribution channels and in-app payment services in a free market - based on the law of supply and demand.
Please add Paddle, Fastspring, Stripe and co.
An indie developer had a long thread on Twitter explaining exactly this. The idea that Apple is responsible for the success of indie developers is a lot more complicated.
It’s not an absurd fee. That the fundament problem some people have here, compared to other industries its on par and not absurd at all. The closest analogy which is still imperfect would be a console system, they get 30% commission and no one bats an eye. The Epic game store was losing money by the millions in the hope to get any traction which indicated that 12% was not sustainable unless one is trying to go out of business.
Is Fortnite coming back to iOS??
Apple is making major changes to its U.S. iOS App Store policies, and developers are now able to direct customers to a non-App Store purchasing option for digital goods. Apple is allowing apps to feature a single link to a developer website that leads to an in-app purchase alternative, but Apple plans to continue to collect a 12 to 27 percent commission on content bought this way.
Apple's update and the backstory that led to it are a bit complicated, but what iPhone and iPad users need to know is that some apps in the U.S. storefront will soon feature a link to their website where subscriptions and other content can be purchased outside of the App Store in-app purchase system, likely with a discounted price.
Developers who want to offer this option will need to apply for a StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement, as Apple has outlined in both updated App Store Review Guidelines and the statement of compliance submitted to the Northern California U.S. District Court. With a Link Entitlement, a developer is able to direct a user to an out-of-app purchasing mechanism using an external purchase link. From Apple's modified App Store rules:
There are several requirements that developers need to adhere to maintain the privacy and security of the App Store ecosystem, and notably, Apple will collect a commission on purchases made using these Entitlement Links. Rather than 30 percent, Apple will collect a 27 percent fee on user purchases or year-one subscriptions made through the link. On the second year of a subscription, the commission fee drops to 12 percent, which is three percentage points lower than the 15 percent fee that Apple collects from second-year or longer subscriptions made through the in-app purchase system. Apps that participate in the App Store Small Business Program will be charged a 12 percent commission rate.
The commission will apply to transactions for digital goods and services that take place on a developers website within seven days after a user taps through an External Purchase Link to an external website.
Several key points about Entitlement Links are listed below.
The Link Entitlement process and the App Store changes are applicable only in the U.S. App Store. Apps for all other storefronts are not able to include buttons, external links, or calls to action that direct customers to alternative purchasing options.
- All links to outside purchasing methods must use the Entitlement Link system, and developers must apply and get Apple's approval.
- Developers are permitted to have a single plain link on one screen of an app. The link can be at a sign-in screen, in user settings, or elsewhere, but it can only be in one place. The single location may not be an interstitial, modal, or pop-up.
- The link can mention the specific price of content on a website, or that content is discounted on the website from the App Store price. Comparisons are allowed.
- Links cannot be placed directly on an in-app purchase screen or in the in-app purchase flow.
- Developers need to certify that the third-party payment service provider they are using for out-of-app purchasing meets industry standards for payment processors, and that they will offer users processes for managing subscriptions, requesting refunds, and disputing unauthorized transactions.
- Apps that participate in Apple's Video Partner Program or News Partner Program are not eligible for Link Entitlement.
- Apps that use the StoreKit External Purchase Link must continue to offer in-app purchases as an option.
- App Store pages are not able to include information about purchasing on a website or a link to a website.
- Digital purchases that are sold on an app's website through the Entitlement Link must be available for use in that app.
- The StoreKit External Purchase Link cannot discourage users from making in-app purchases or mimic an in-app purchase.
- Links must open a new window in the default browser of the device, and are not able to open a web view.
- No redirecting, intermediate links, or URL tracking parameters are allowed.
- Developers are required to provide a periodic accounting of qualifying out-of-app purchases, and Apple has a right to audit developers' accounting to ensure compliance with their commission obligations and to charge interest and offset payments.
Apple will provide an in-app warning to customers to let them know that they are leaving the App Store ecosystem to make a purchase on an external website and that App Store protections will not be available.
According to Apple's statement filed with the court, the requirements surrounding links are aimed at minimizing "fraud, scams, and confusion," while also providing developers with an opportunity to "entice users to other platforms" and give customers a choice between non-App Store purchasing and in-app purchases.
The changes today stem from Apple's 2021 legal battle with Epic Games. Apple won the dispute and the court did not find that Apple had violated U.S. antitrust law, but Apple was at the time ordered to remove "anti-steering" rules preventing developers from informing customers about alternatives to in-app purchases. That order has been on hold during the appeals process, but the appeals process ended today.
Both Apple and Epic Games had appealed to the United States Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court declined to hear the case. That means the initial ruling and the appeals court ruling that agreed with it are permanent, and Apple no... Click here to read rest of article
Article Link: U.S. Developers Can Now Offer Non-App Store Purchasing Option, But Apple Will Still Collect Commissions
And like so the whole world lived ever after in peace.
Over there Russian troops are retreating from Ukraine and Zelenskyy and Putin are shaking hands, China has left Hong Kong and Taiwan in peace for eternity and here left and right are hugging hard with teary eyes.
Except here at MacRumors, we will be here at war forever. Some will fight it still saying that it’s not enough, that it’s a scam and that it should be challenged… up until it is allowed to sell on the store front for the fee of zero dollar and zero cents.
That’s our promise to you, I’ll enjoy the sight it provides.
Over there Russian troops are retreating from Ukraine and Zelenskyy and Putin are shaking hands, China has left Hong Kong and Taiwan in peace for eternity and here left and right are hugging hard with teary eyes.
Except here at MacRumors, we will be here at war forever. Some will fight it still saying that it’s not enough, that it’s a scam and that it should be challenged… up until it is allowed to sell on the store front for the fee of zero dollar and zero cents.
That’s our promise to you, I’ll enjoy the sight it provides.
Putting it to you as well:
Add Paddle, Fastspring, Stripe and co. - to stop the disingenuity.
(We're talking in-app purchasing here, from within a developer's app that the consumer already downloaded, installed and opened up. There's no "platform" hosting or outside marketing involved as run and done by Epic, Nintendo, Sony etc. - or a brick & mortar store).
I hate to say it, but how invigorated legislators will be in the future depends on who wins future Presidential elections.
You deserve a barrage of dislikes, you are not being trendy with all that rationality. The way to go is via irrational bashing, criticizing and burning what’s fashionable to bash and criticize and burn down… diverse opinions are not allowed here! (As much as people boast that they are all for diversity and tolerance)It’s not an absurd fee. That the fundament problem some people have here, compared to other industries its on par and not absurd at all. The closest analogy which is still imperfect would be a console system, they get 30% commission and no one bats an eye. The Epic game store was losing money by the millions in the hope to get any traction which indicated that 12% was not sustainable unless one is trying to go out of business.
The apps are literally built out of Apple’s proprietary APIs using their Xcode developer tools. Why should a developer be able to use their “building blocks” for free? This is what most people fail to understand. The 30% was never for payment processing or web hosting.
What about mobile websites?! They work fine. Why all this obsession with “apps?”
Very trollish behavior. I have never felt more ashamed to be an Apple user than I do at this very moment.
...on who wins?
You think so?
I wouldn't be surprised if it just depended on Trump's mood of the day.
Or Biden's health of the day.
So basically... on the luck of the day.