Apple has recently made updates to their App Store policies regarding external payment platforms. These changes specify how developers can link to outside payment methods while still ensuring that Apple receives a cut. The amendments also outline the percentage Apple will take from these transactions, depending on the developer’s circumstances. Although these policy updates come as a response to the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear Apple and Epic’s appeals, not everyone is satisfied with these changes, particularly Tim Sweeney, Epic’s founder and CEO.
The New App Store Policies
Under the new updates, developers will need to apply for an “entitlement” in order to enable the use of alternative payment methods. While they can link to outside payment platforms, developers are still required to offer Apple’s in-app purchase system within their apps as well. Apple will take a 27 percent cut from these transactions, which is slightly less than the standard 30 percent. However, developers who are part of the App Store Small Business Program will only owe Apple a 12 percent cut. These guidelines are outlined in Section 3.1.1(a) of the App Store Review Guidelines, which provides further details for developers seeking to utilize external payment methods.
Reaction from Tim Sweeney
Despite Apple’s efforts to address the concerns raised by the Epic Games v. Apple ruling, Tim Sweeney, the founder and CEO of Epic Games, remains dissatisfied with the updated policies. Sweeney criticizes Apple’s rules for the appearance and functionality of the links to external payment platforms. He also expresses disapproval of the 27 percent fee, deeming it “anticompetitive.” Moreover, Sweeney highlights what he refers to as the “scare screen” that users will encounter when leaving an app to visit an external site. In response to Apple’s policy changes, Sweeney states that Epic Games will contest what he perceives as Apple’s “bad-faith compliance plan” in District Court.
Apple’s recent updates to its App Store policies regarding external payment platforms aim to address some of the concerns raised in the Epic Games v. Apple ruling. These changes provide developers with specific guidelines for linking to outside payment methods while ensuring that Apple still receives a percentage of the transaction. However, Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, is critical of these policy amendments. Sweeney takes issue with the 27 percent fee, the rules governing the appearance and functionality of links, and the “scare screen” that users encounter when leaving an app. It remains to be seen how this dispute between Epic Games and Apple will unfold and whether it will lead to further legal action.
Leave a Reply