Update: Apple Revisions the App Store Link Out Regulations per EU DMA. However, the fees remain high.

Apple modified its App Store's rules to make them more compatible with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) However, the costs related to the new rules made that were made by Apple remain a significant amount in accordance with an article from The Verge.

The Highlights of the new features are described as six brief bullets on the Apple News and Updates page, and users are advised to go there for to find a deeper overview of the capabilities in the developer's documentation.

Highlights include "offers that allow users to buy items from any location they prefer," developers being able to "use an actionable link that can be clicked, tapped or swiped bring users to where they want to go," and that "Updated commercial terms and conditions applicable for apps that use the an external Purchase Link Entitlement feature are in the process of being added to ensure that they are in line with any adjustments implemented to these capabilities."

These modifications are expected to begin to take effect "this autumn" (no date to set an exact start date has been set).

"Nearly Infinite 20 Percent Fee for developers'

As per the article in The Verge, "Apple offers a nearly inexhaustible 20 percent charge to developers as part of the latest EU update" the updates appear to provide developers with more flexibility with regards to linking with purchase options that are not available through Apple's App Store.

The costs associated with the latest feature is so costly and limitative that "it's hard to imagine a developer using the option. "

It's because, for developers who join the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum, the associated fees include a 5 percent initial acquisition fee plus the additional 20 percent store service cost that can be applied to "sales of digital goods and services made accessible on any platform, in a twelve-month frame from the date of installation. This also includes updates to apps and reinstallation of apps."

The Verge mentions the fact that app updates or reinstalls that the user makes reset the timer to twelve months remaining to pay the charge. Alternative programs and techniques can lower the fees by providing support for third party apps, or charging specific auto-renewing subscriptions which qualify, or being a developer in Apple's small business program. But the 12-month ongoing fees are reset every time a reinstall or update could make them "endless."

A recently released TechCrunch article titled "Apple alters DMA approvals for link-outs from the App Store, having fewer restrictions as well as the new fee structure" further clarifies some details of the Apple's various conditions and fees that are both existing and brand new. Particularly,"Store Service Fee" will be a new fee "Store Service Fee" will comprise "a 10percent commission or a 5% discount commission (e.g. Developers that participate in the App Store's Small Business Program) as per the terms of Apple's commercial agreements, and 20% standard or the 7% discount that is offered in accordance with Apple's current terms."

Information about the charges that are associated with those Alternate Terms Addendum to apps within the EU and the StoreKit external Access to Purchase Link (EU) Addendum can be found in the Commissions area of this Apple Help page.

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Katie Stephan Katie Stephan is the Senior Content Strategist at . Besides her extensive marketing experience and expertise, she also has an MFA in creative non-fiction writing and has worked in her local communities by teaching writing classes at the college level.

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