Update: Apple Revises App Store Link-Out Rules for EU DMA, but new fees are still high -
Apple changed its App Store's rules to make it better compliant with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) however the costs related to the changes by Apple are still quite high in accordance with an article from The Verge.
The major changes are described with six brief paragraphs on the Apple News and Updates page, and readers are invited to click through to an even more thorough description of the latest changes in the developer's documentation.
Some highlights are advertising "offers for purchases available at the location of their preference," developers being able to "use an actionable hyperlink that can be clicked, tapped or scanned in order to direct users to the destination they desire," and that "Updated commercial terms applicable to apps using external Purchase Link Entitlement will be made available to coincide with changes made to these capabilities."
These changes are supposed to begin to take effect "this autumn" (no other specific beginning date is given).
'Nearly Endless 20 Percent Fee For Developers'
As per the article in The Verge, "Apple offers a nearly indefinite $20 percent developer fee in the most recent EU update," the updates appear to provide developers with more flexibility regarding linking to purchase options that are not available through App Store. App Store.
But the costs that come with the feature's new features are so steep and restrictive that "it's impossible to envision that any developers would use the feature."
That's because, for developer who choose to join the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum, the charges associated with it include a 5 percent initial acquisition fee plus an additional 20% store services fee that applies on "sales of digital products and services using any platform which occur during a predetermined 12 month period beginning from the date of an installation, including updates to apps and reinstalls."
The Verge informs us that app updates or reinstalls through the user resets the timer back to 12 months left in the current store services fee. There are a variety of other tools and programs that can lower the fees and include the ability to support third-party apps, charging certain auto-renewing subscriptions that qualify, or having a developer account in Apple's small business program. However, the ongoing fee of 12 months that reset after updates or reinstalls is what makes them potentially "endless."
A recent TechCrunch article, "Apple revamps DMA approval for link-outs from the App Store, applying fewer restrictions and a new fee structure," further clarifies some of the distinctions between Apple's various terms and their related fees, both current and new. As an example there is the "Store Service Fee" is "a 10% commission or 5 percent discount on commissions (e.g. developer commissions for those that are part of the App Store's small business program) according to Apple's brand new business terms; or 20% standard, and 7percent discount in accordance with Apple's terms currently in place."
Information on the fees associated with and both of the Alternate Terms Addendum for Apps within the EU and the StoreKit external Purchase link Entitlement (EU) Addendum can be found in the Commissions section of this Apple support page.
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