In a proposed solution to a class action lawsuit with developers, Apple agreed to make some key changes after a particularly intense year of review on your App Store policies. There are a number of changes that are pending court approval, but the big one would allow developers to directly inform customers who don’t belong to their iOS apps about payment options. Or you know, omit to some extent the so-called Apple Tax.
“To give developers even greater flexibility to reach their customers, Apple also clarifies that developers can use communications, such as email, to share information about payment methods outside of their iOS app,” he said. say Apple to your announcement. For these transactions, developers will not have to pay a commission to Apple, as long as users agree to be notified outside the app and have the option to disable it.
Apple frames this deal as a commitment that provides developers with more business opportunities, while keeping their App Store safe for consumers. (Despite reducing the examination of antitrust allegations) is a significant change from Apple’s strict stance, but it’s probably not what developers really expected. At this time, prior to approval of this agreement, developers may not notify users of alternative payments (which are not subject to Apple’s 30% commission) with customer contact information obtained from the app. . This change would at least remove that hurdle, but it’s still not as easy as notifying customers from the app like Epic did throughout the Fortnite debacle.
This is not the only change proposed. Apple also agrees to create a $ 100 million fund for small U.S. developers. Payments, according to judicial documents, will range from $ 250 to $ 30,000. Developers are eligible if they earn $ 1 million or less for all of their apps each year between June 4, 2015 and April 26, 2021. However, Apple will not receive any surplus funds. These will go to Girls Who Code.
Apple also agreed to expand pricing for subscriptions, in-app purchases, and paid apps. He also pledged that search results would be based on “objective features such as downloads, star ratings, text relevance, and user behavior signals” and that this system would remain in place for the next three years. He App Store program for small businesses—It allows companies that earn less than $ 1 million a year to pay a reduced commission — it will also be maintained for the next three years. Last but not least, Apple says it will release an annual transparency report.
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“We want to thank the developers who worked with us to reach these agreements in support of the goals of the App Store and for the benefit of all our users,” said Phil Schiller, the Apple member in charge of the App Store .
The plaintiffs a Cameron v. Apple Inc., also seemed satisfied. “We’re really proud that a case filed by two developers, in the skin of tens of thousands of U.S. iOS developers, can help bring about so many important changes,” said Steve Berman, the lawyer representing iOS developers to class action. in a statement.