Apple announced important changes to its policy – some iOS applications will be allowed to contain links to external resources to manage accounts outside the Apple ecosystem and even payments without the traditional 15-30% commission.
We are talking about the so-called “reader” applications – software that displays content “outside of iOS”, including videos, music, magazines, newspapers and books purchased from third-party services.
Earlier, Apple explicitly prohibited developers from redirecting users to subscribe to third-party sites and make payments in addition to the App Store – we are talking about services like Spotify or Netflix. Instead, users are relying on Apple’s payment system, which charges developers a mandatory percentage.
The rule will still not apply to all transactions through the App Store; for example, in-game purchases of digital goods for any purpose.
We know that this practice is one of the main reasons for complaints from developers against the company, accusing Apple of “non-competitive” practices. We are talking not only about small developers; but also giants like Spotify; whose complaint played a role in the EU’s decision that Apple’s behavior violated the rules of free competition.
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The decision was reportedly made as part of a deal with one of the regulators, the Japan Fair Competition Commission. At the same time, Apple said that the new rules will apply not only in Japan; but also globally, from 2022. We do not know whether the changes will affect the prices for users; but the software developers will get rid of the commission.
South Korean developers will be able to choose the payment method in the App Store and Play Store
On Tuesday, the South Korean National Assembly passed a bill that is the world’s first piece of legislation to curtail the dominance of tech giants like Google and Apple over the sale of digital goods in apps on their platforms. The document submitted for signing to the President of the country Moon Jae-in, whose party supported this law.
Legislators voted in favor of an amendment to the Telecommunications Business Law; which prohibits app store operators from “unfairly using their market position to force businesses into a certain method of payment”.
The bill, dubbed the Anti-Google Law, allows mobile app publishers to offer alternative payment systems for the App Store and Play Store. By doing so, South Korean officials have ended the monopoly between Google and Apple; which threatens companies’ profits from commissions on digital sales. Recall that Google and Apple have been criticized around the world; in connection with the dominance of their online software stores; and setting unreasonably high commissions on in-app sales.
