Apple revises US App Store rules to let developers link to outside payment methods, but it will still charge a commission

In light of the to hear Apple’s appeal in its , Apple has announced a handful of changes coming to the App Store Guidelines. Starting today, Apple is updating the App Store Guidelines to comply with the outcome of the 2021 Apple vs. Epic trial. The changes to relax its anti steering rules that have previously prohibited developers from linking to alternative payment systems in their apps.

The revised App Store guidelines The changes Apple is making to the App Store guidelines apply in the United States. They are similar to the changes for dating applications in the Netherlands. Apple is updating its App Store guidelines to allow developers to link to alternative payment methods, provided that the app offer purchases through Apple’s own In App Purchase system.

This means that an app can’t include links to alternative payment platforms if that app doesn’t also use Apple’s In App Purchase system. The guideline says that developers can apply for an entitlement that allows them to include buttons or links directing users to out of app purchasing mechanisms.

“Developers may apply for an entitlement to provide a link in their app to a website the developer owns or maintains responsibility for in order to purchase such items. Learn more about the entitlement. In accordance with the entitlement agreement, the link may inform users about where and how to purchase those in app purchase items, and the fact that such items may be available for a comparatively lower price.

The entitlement is limited to use only in the iOS or iPadOS App Store on the United States storefront. In all other storefronts, apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in app purchase.” According to Apple, the link to an alternative payment platform can only be displayed on “one app page the end user navigates to (not an interstitial, modal, or pop up), in a single, dedicated location on such page, and may not persist beyond that page.” Apple has provided templates that developers can use for communicating with customers about alternative in app payment systems: Apple will still collect a commission Apple has also confirmed that it will charge a commission on purchases made through alternative payment platforms.

This commission will be 12% for developers who are a member of the App Store Small Business Program and 27% for other apps. The commission will apply to “purchases made within seven days after a user taps on an External Purchase Link and continues from the system disclosure sheet to an external website.” Apple says developers will be required to provide accounting of qualifying out of app purchases and remit the appropriate commissions.

To help ensure collection of Apple’s commission, 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. As both this Court and the Ninth Circuit recognized, collecting a commission in this way will impose additional costs on Apple and the developers.

However, Apple also says that collecting this commission will be “exceedingly difficult and, in many cases, impossible.” “Although developers are contractually obligated to pay the commission, as a practical matter, with hundreds of thousands of developers with apps on the U.S. storefronts for the iOS and iPadOS App Stores, collection and enforcement will be exceedingly difficult and, in many cases, impossible.” The link You provide in Your StoreKit External Purchase Link App (US) under this Addendum must: Wrap up The other anti steering change that Apple is required to make is to allow developers to communicate with customers outside of their apps about alternative purchasing options, such as via email.

Apple as part of its settlement of a class action lawsuit brought on by small developers. More information is provided in the legal documents below, which Apple filed with the US District Court today..