Apple has long argued with app developers about sales and subscription models. Now there is an agreement.
Apple has agreed on changes in a legal dispute with smaller developers over the company’s role in app sales on the iPhone and iPad. With the concession in the heated debate, a class action lawsuit by the US developers is to be ended.
As the US group announced on Friday, in the comparison it will give developers the option of sending app users information about subscriptions outside of the app store in the future. However, this must not happen within the app itself, but must run outside the app – for example by email. So far, Apple has strictly refused to display information about alternative subscription options outside of the app store in the applications.
The out-of-court settlement with the smaller developers does not affect the larger legal disputes, for example with the game developer Epic or the streaming service Spotify.
In the settlement with the class plaintiffs, Apple was able to fend off central claims of the developers. Apple does not have to allow another app store on the iPhone or iPad, nor does it have to reduce its share in sales by up to 30 percent.
However, Apple complied with the plaintiffs in terms of pricing freedom: The group is increasing the number of predefined price points that developers can set for subscriptions, in-app purchases and paid apps from less than 100 to more than 500.
Apple’s app store system is currently under attack. The EU Commission accuses the iPhone group of unfair competition in the business with music streaming apps such as Spotify. With a lawsuit in the US, the game company Epic wants to ensure that it and other providers can operate their own app stores on the iPhone bypassing Apple. Apple emphasizes that the App Store is a lucrative platform for app developers and at the same time protects users from attempted fraud.
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