By Julie Clover
With the release of iOS 17.4, changes to Apple's app ecosystem in the European Union have gone into effect. Apple today said it has made several last-minute updates to its terms of service after receiving feedback from developers.
To distribute apps through the App Store with reduced fees to Apple or with an alternative payment option, developers must agree to new terms of business that accept fees for the underlying technology and other new pricing requirements. Apple initially didn't give developers the option to try out the new system and then abandon it if it didn't work, but a one-time trade-in option is now available in some circumstances.
Apple says developers have a one-time option to end the new amendments to the rules [PDF] and return to Apple's standard business terms, although there is a catch. Developers who wish to revert to the original state cannot distribute the application through an alternative app store or use an alternative payment processing method.
You may terminate this Addendum without terminating the Developer Agreement once, provided that Your Application has never been in an Alternative App Store (EU), distributed through an Alternative App Store (EU), linked to, or used alternative payment processing.
Opt-out will be available for developers who choose to continue distributing their apps through the App Store by accepting the Core Technology Fee and reduced fee option. The CTF is €0.50 per download after 1 million downloads, and the commission is 13 percent for small business owners and 20 percent for installs over 1 million (this includes payment processing fees for the App Store).
Developers wishing to create an alternative app marketplace can now do so without a €1,000,000 standby letter of credit, limiting market creation to large companies. Developers who have been members of the Apple Developer Program in good standing for two or more consecutive years and have an app that had more than one million first-year installs on iOS in the EU in the previous calendar year can create a market without evidence. funds.
There are also no longer legal entity requirements when signing up for the new terms, so large businesses can sign up at the developer account level, rather than having each controlling member approve the exchange. updated terms of business.
With the release of iOS 17.4, we will soon see the launch of the first alternative app marketplaces. Now developers can freely accept new business conditions, distribute their applications outside the App Store and use third-party payments in your applications. Please note that all of these changes are only available to developers and users in the European Union.
Tags: App Store, Apple Developer Program[ 117 comments ]
