Latest News: Apple Revises App Store Link-Out Rules per EU DMA, but new fees are still high -
Apple has updated its App Store's rules in order to be more compatible with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) However, the charges that Apple has imposed as a result of its changes are still quite high as per an article by The Verge.
The Highlights are listed with six brief paragraphs on Apple's News and Updates page, with readers invited to click through to the more in-depth description of the latest changes in their developer documentation.
Some highlights are advertising "offers for purchases available at the location of their preference," developers being able to "use an actionable link that can be clicked, tapped or scanned to take users to their destination," and that "Updated the business terms used by apps that utilize an External Purchase Link Entitlement feature are currently being introduced to align with the changes to these features."
These changes are supposed to be in effects "this fall" (no date for a more precise start date appears to have been set).
'Nearly an indefinite 20 percent fee For Developers'
Per the article from The Verge, "Apple offers a nearly indefinite 20 percent fee for developers in latest EU update," the updates appear to give developers more freedom regarding linking to purchase options outside of App Store. App Store.
However, the fees associated with the feature's new features are so prohibitive and expensive that "it's hard to imagine anyone using the feature."
That's because, for developer that choose to sign up for the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum, the charges associated with it include a 5 initial acquisition charge, along with an additional 20% store services charge that is applicable to "sales of digital goods and services, made on any platform, that occur within a fixed 12 month period beginning from the date of an installation, which includes app updates and the reinstallation of apps."
The Verge informs us that apps that are updated or reinstalled through the user resets the timer back to the 12 months remaining for the ongoing store fees. Other programs and methods are able to lower costs, including adding the ability to support third-party apps, charging certain auto-renewing subscriptions that qualify, or having a developer account in Apple's small-business program. The ongoing charges of twelve months resetting at updates or reinstalls are what make them "endless."
A recent TechCrunch article, "Apple changes DMA approval to allow App Store link-outs applying fewer restrictions and the new structure for fees," further clarifies some aspects of Apple's various terms and their associated fees, both existing and new. In particular,"Store Services Fee" will be "Store Service Fee" will comprise "a 10% commission, or a five discount commission (e.g., for developers enrolled in the App Store's small-business program) according to Apple's brand new business terms; or 20% standard and 7percent discount in accordance with the terms of Apple's current agreements."
Details on fees for each of the alternative terms Addendum for Apps within the EU as well as the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum can be viewed in the Commissions section on this Apple Support page.
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