A major shift for native app developers
Yesterday, a federal court made a decisive ruling in Epic Games v. Apple: Apple violated a 2021 injunction by continuing to restrict developers from linking to external payment methods, and by imposing a 27% fee when they did. The ruling represents a major shift for native app developers.
Apple's App Store has operated as a tightly controlled marketplace. Until now, developers couldn't even tell users they could pay elsewhere. Apple's 30% cut (the so-called "Apple Tax") meant higher prices for consumers, smaller margins for developers, and less freedom overall.
After the 2021 injunction, Apple introduced a system called StoreKit External Purchase Link API. This surfaced a system disclosure sheet, a "scare screen," warning users that they were about to leave the App Store.
This ruling opens up new possibilities for developers to offer more competitive pricing and better user experiences. The commission-free payment option on web platforms represents a significant shift in the mobile app ecosystem.
Developers can now implement web-based payment systems that bypass Apple's commission structure, potentially leading to:
This change is expected to have far-reaching implications for the entire mobile app industry.
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