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Apple announces changes for apps in the European Union
Apple announces changes for apps in the European Union
Apple today announced changes to its business terms for apps in the European Union, following close collaboration with the European Commission. These changes resolve Apple’s disagreements with the Commission over business terms and alternative distribution. They also reduce complexity by moving every developer that distributes apps in the EU to a single set of business terms. Developers can sign the new terms today, and changes will go into effect on October 1.
Unified Business Terms for Developers That Distribute Apps in the EU
Under this new model, Apple will charge a commission on the sale of digital goods and services. The Core Technology Fee, a per-install fee for developers that achieve extraordinary scale, will be replaced by the Core Technology Commission, a simple 5 percent commission on digital transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store. The new terms also eliminate the initial acquisition fee and store services fee.
In addition, Apple is adjusting commission rates across the App Store, alternative app payments, and alternatively distributed apps. Each of these commissions reflects the many ways Apple creates value for developers’ apps, whether they use the App Store and/or Apple In-App Purchase.
Apple In-App Purchase is the safest, most trusted way for users to purchase and download apps and make seamless and secure payments in those apps. Under the updated terms, developers can now offer Apple In-App Purchase alongside alternative payment options, which had not previously been permitted in the EU. This is subject to presentation requirements designed to give users a consistent, transparent experience.
To provide consistency and clarity for users, developers distributing apps in the EU will select their payment options — Apple In-App Purchase, alternative payment processing in their app, linking out to the web, or a combination — and must maintain those options for 12 months.
Child Safety Protections for Alternative Payments in the EU
The App Store is designed to be a safe and trusted place for everyone, particularly children. Apple has worked with the Commission to implement child safety measures for alternative payments similar to those already in place in other markets:
In EU member states that require parental consent for digital actions for children older than 13 years old, these protections will scale accordingly.