Update: Apple Revises App Store Link-Out Rules per EU DMA. However, New Fees Still High -
Apple has updated its App Store rules to be better compliant to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) However, the charges that Apple has imposed as a result of its changes are still considerably high as per an article in The Verge.
The major changes are described with six brief paragraphs on the Apple News and Updates page, users are being invited to go to the more in-depth description of the latest changes on their developer manual.
The highlights include mentions of the promotion of "offers to purchase items at a destination of their choice," developers being able to "use an actionable link that can be clicked, tapped, or scanned, to take users to where they want to go," and that "Updated the business terms used by apps that utilize an External Purchase Link Entitlement feature are currently being introduced to align with changes made to these capabilities."
The changes will begin to take into effect "this the fall" (no date for a more precise start date appears to have been set).
'Nearly Infinite 20 Percent Fee For Developers'
As per the article in The Verge, "Apple adds nearly endless $20 percent developer fee in the most recent EU update," the updates appear to provide developers with more flexibility when it comes to linking with purchase alternatives outside of App Store. App Store.
The costs associated with this new feature are so steep and restrictive that "it's impossible to envision any developer using the feature."
This is because for developers who choose to join the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum, the charges associated with it include a 5 initial acquisition charge, plus an additional 20% store services charge that is applicable to "sales of digital products or services that are made available via any platform and within a set 12-month period starting from the time of install, including app updates and reinstalls."
The Verge points out that apps that are updated or reinstalled through the user resets the timer back to the period of 12 months to pay the store's ongoing services fee. Various other programs and mechanisms could lower fees and include support for third party app stores, charging for certain auto-renewing subscriptions that qualify, or becoming a developer under Apple's small business program. But the 12-month ongoing fees resetting at updates or reinstalls are what make them "endless."
A recently published TechCrunch article, "Apple revises DMA compliance for link-outs from the App Store, using fewer restrictions as well as the new structure for fees," further clarifies some of the differences between the various terms of Apple and their associated fees, both existing as well as new. For example there is the "Store Service Fee" will be "a 10% commission fee or a 5% discounted commission (e.g. developer commissions for those enrolled in the App Store's small business program) under Apple's new business terms; or 20% standard and 7percent discount in accordance with Apple's existing terms."
The details on charges for both the Alternative Terms Addendum to Apps within the EU and for the StoreKit external Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum can be viewed in the Commissions area of this Apple Support page.
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