Apple has recently made changes to its App Store rules in the United States, allowing apps to now link users to their own websites for purchasing subscriptions or other digital goods. This shift in policy follows a court ruling in favor of Epic Games in a legal battle against Apple, which mandated that apps should have the ability to redirect users to external websites for digital purchases.
In a blog post, Apple stated, “The App Review Guidelines have been updated to comply with a United States court decision regarding buttons, external links, and other calls to action in apps.” This decision stems from a lawsuit filed by Epic Games in 2020, challenging Apple’s control over in-app transactions and the 30% commission it charged developers. In 2021, Epic Games secured an injunction requiring Apple to provide developers with options to direct users to their own websites to avoid paying the commission.
Following the unsuccessful appeal against the injunction, Apple began permitting apps to use non-Apple payment mechanisms, albeit still taking a reduced 27% cut and implementing what critics referred to as “scare screens.” However, the recent ruling mandates Apple to discontinue the use of these screens and has already eliminated guidelines specifying the language to be used in these links and screens.
Apple’s response to the ruling has been one of disagreement, with the company stating, “We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court’s order and we will appeal.” Meanwhile, Spotify, engaged in a similar dispute with Apple on this issue in various regions, has already submitted an updated version of its app to the U.S. App Store, allowing users to purchase subscriptions externally.
It remains to be seen whether Apple will cease charging apps a commission on payments made through external links. The tech giant’s ongoing legal battle and the evolving landscape of app store regulations will continue to shape the future of digital commerce on Apple’s platform.
