Apple Announces App Store Changes: New Communication Rules, Small Developers Aid Foundation, And More

Apple has announced a number of changes that will be made to the App Store in response to the class action lawsuit.

American developers. One of the most notable changes is that developers can now inform users about alternative payment solutions outside of their apps.

This class action lawsuit was first filed in 2019year. This is not Epic's case against Apple, but a lawsuit filed against Apple by small developers. App Store changes apply to all App Store developers in the US and other countries.

What has (not) changed

Notably, Apple claims thatDevelopers can “use communication tools such as email to communicate payment method information outside of their iOS app”. This means that a company or developer can send users emails with their consent to inform them about their subscription outside of the App Store.

However, Apple has confirmed that this change is notapplies to communication within the application. Developers are still prohibited from informing in-app users about pricing or subscription options available elsewhere. In theory, Netflix could have a field in its iOS app for the user to enter their email address and then directly email them about payment options.

Other highlights of the settlement:

  • Apple and its developers have agreed to keep the App Store Small Business program in its current structure for at least the next three years.
  • App Store searches have always focused onto make it easier for users to find the apps they are looking for. At the developers' request, Apple agreed that search results will continue to be based on objective metrics such as downloads, star rating, text relevance, and user behavior signals. The agreement will keep the current App Store search engine running for at least three years.
  • Apple will also expand the number of availableDevelopers price targets for subscriptions, in-app purchases and paid apps from under 100 to over 500. Developers will continue to set their own pricing.
  • Apple will keep the opportunity for developersappeal the rejection of an application on grounds of unfair treatment – a process that continues to prove successful. Apple has agreed to add content to the App Review website to help developers understand how the review process works.
  • Over the past few years, Apple has providedLots of new information about the App Store at apple.com. Apple has agreed to create an annual transparency report based on this data that will provide meaningful statistics about the app review process, including the number of apps rejected for various reasons, the number of deactivated customer and developer accounts, objective data on search queries and results, and the number of apps removed from the App Store.

Frankly, it looks as if Apple even won the case, although if you carefully re-read the points stated,Apple doesn't change anythingwithin its ecosystem. Half of the items stated “Apple agreed to retain for three years” something that no one was going to change.

No downloading of applications from third partiesThere is still no word on sources. The commission remains the same - from 15% to 30%. The only new item is the ability to set prices like $1.29 or $1.49 instead of the previous policy of changing prices in one-dollar increments, but how much this is in demand by the app market is completely unclear.

As a result, leaving almost everything “aswas” (with the exception of the “official” permission for developers to communicate with users via email), Apple has an excellent bargaining chip for almost any future lawsuits on similar issues, and looks like a winner, despite official concessions to the community.

Small Developers Assistance Fund

Apple also announces the creation of a Relief Fundsmall developers, which will pay between $250 and $30,000 to developers earning less than $1 million per year in the App Store. Amounts will vary depending on the developer's "historical participation in the App Store ecosystem." Only US developers are eligible to participate in this program.

Source: apple

Illustrations: James Yarema

</ p>