After years of legal battles, Apple has finally opened up the App Store to outside payment processors, but it will come at a hefty cost for app developers who want to take advantage of the new opportunity.
Apple’s app marketplace rules changes have been revealed. legal filing On Tuesday, it was announced that app makers would be allowed to link to external payment processors of their choice if they meet the following conditions: Pay Apple a 27% fee For the joy of doing so. Naturally, developers are furious.
Apple’s app policy changes are long and difficult legal battle The company’s relationship with Epic Games dates back to 2020, when Epic sued the company for “anticompetitive conduct.”
The lawsuit was primarily sparked by Apple’s controversial “walled garden” approach to apps. Historically, Apple has required all in-app purchases to be made through its own payment system and charged a 30 percent fee. commission To app developers who do so. This hefty amount is the entrance fee to Apple’s popular marketplace, which puts the company in direct contact with millions of his iPhone and iOS users. Epic is in trouble in 2020 tried to avoid Earn these commissions by launching your own in-app payment system fortnitevirtual currency, V-Bucks. The result is epic; fortnite, Kicked out of App Store.This was a problem for Epic for a variety of reasons, the most important of which was fortnite He is the top earner.
amazing Then sued Appleclaimed that its App Store constituted a “monopoly” and engaged in anticompetitive practices. The case took him through the U.S. judicial system for three years, but ultimately ended up at the feet of the Supreme Court. This week, the Supreme Court refused to hear the casewhich means it was kicked back to the judgment handed down in the last stop of the judicial circuit.
The previous ruling in the case was handed down by Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District Court of Northern California. 2021, Rogers The ruling was primarily in favor of Apple., but the company’s policy of prohibiting app users from accessing alternative payment processors was found to be anti-competitive. As a result of Mr. Rogers’ ruling, Apple will be forced to introduce changes that go into effect this week, allowing developers to direct app users to third-party payment processors.
But even if Apple allows app developers to link to external payment methods, the company still charges app developers a hefty 27% fee if they want to link to an external payment system of their choice. This means that Understandably, developers aren’t thrilled.When trying to use an external payment, Apple apparently Added notification A screen appears warning app users that they are “about to access an external website” and that Apple is not “responsible for the privacy or security of your purchases.”
The outcome of the lengthy legal drama has largely been seen as a success for Apple, but a pretty raw deal for Epic.game companies, i.e. fortniteand to add insult to injury, Epic is currently being kicked out of Apple’s App Store. Apple owes $73 million in legal fees. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney is clearly angry. On the X show this week, Sweeney accused Apple of what he called “anticompetitive” conduct and suggested that the company’s long legal battle with its corporate enemies may not be over yet. District court,” Sweeney added.
