A California judge told Apple in 2021 that it could not prevent app developers from using “buttons, external links, or other calls to action” to inform users of payment options outside of their apps.
Epic and other developers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the rates of between 15 and 30 percent that Apple applies to in-app purchases, which Apple further complicates by preventing them from directing users to lower-priced payment options outside the iOS ecosystem.
Apple has defended the fees as a reasonable compensation for its own services in the App Store.
What are Meta and Microsoft accusing Apple of?
That’s why Meta, Microsoft, Match Group, and Twitter filed a document on Wednesday. These companies have been subject to Apple’s rules against directing users outside of their own payment processing, and that’s why they say Apple’s new compliance idea wouldn’t solve the real problem.
According to these companies, Apple’s proposal to allow developers to point to an external purchase link is complex and burdensome.
“The new Apple restrictions are clearly designed to make alternatives to Apple’s IAP impracticable for developers, and inaccessible and unattractive to consumers, thus bypassing both the spirit and underlying objectives of the court order,” wrote the companies in their statement.
Epic itself has asked the judge to enforce its original order, stating that Apple is committing a “blatant violation” of the court order.
But it is remarkable that other major developers, such as Meta and Microsoft, have decided to intervene now, demonstrating that Apple’s rules can even affect the largest technology companies in the world.
The complainants claim that the rate of between 12 and 27 percent that Apple applies to external purchases contradicts the purpose of the new requirement, as it is only a few percentage points below what developers would have to pay for in-app purchases.
The fee for external purchases could make developers not even consider creating an external payment system, since other transaction costs they could incur through that route would eliminate any of the 3% profits they would obtain by moving away from the Apple system. Furthermore, it is unlikely that customers would choose the external option if its price is equal or higher.
The companies explain in the statement how Apple’s in-app payment requirements affect them and supposedly harm them and their users.
Apple will have the opportunity to present a response before a hearing on the execution of the court order takes place on April 30th.
