App Store Shake-up: Developers Gain Freedom to Link Out Without Apple’s 30% Cut

Epic Win for Developers in Apple App Store Injunction

Key Points:

• Injunction Details: As a result of the ongoing dispute between Apple and Epic Games, an injunction has been issued that significantly relaxes restrictions on app developers in the U.S. App Store.
• New Requirements for Apple:
  • No Commission on External Purchases: Apple must not impose any commission or fees on purchases made outside the app.
  • Freedom of Linking: Developers are allowed to use links, buttons, and calls to action for external purchases without restrictions on style, language, formatting, quantity, flow, or placement.
  • No Category Exclusions: All apps and developers must have access to link out.
  • Neutral User Messages: Apple can only use a neutral message to inform users that they are being directed to a third-party site.
  • Dynamic Links Allowed: Developers can use dynamic links to bring consumers to specific product pages in a logged-in state.
• Background:
  • The judgement stems from the November 2021 ruling, which required Apple to allow developers to link out to alternative payment methods.
  • In January 2024, Apple implemented terms that included a 27% commission on external purchases and restrictive guidelines for linking, which Epic argued did not meet the court’s requirements.
• Impact:
  • This new injunction removes all of Apple's previous restrictions, potentially giving developers more control over their business models and reducing Apple's influence on app monetization.
• Court-Approved Alert:
  • The judge provided an example of a simple pop-up dialog to inform users that they are being directed to a third-party site, which is less obstructive than the previous full-screen modal scare sheet.
  • This approved design was suggested by Apple internally but ultimately discarded in favor of a more anticompetitive option.