Apple Complies with Court Order: New App Store Guidelines Permit External Links and Purchases in the US

Summary

Apple has updated its App Store Guidelines to comply with a court order that ruled against the company's restrictions on external purchases. The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, declared that Apple's rules were a willful violation of an injunction. Despite this, Apple is appealing the decision.

The new guidelines allow developers to include external links and buttons for purchasing mechanisms in apps on the United States storefront, which was previously prohibited due to concerns over lost revenue from commissions. This change has been welcomed by companies like Spotify and Patreon, who can now offer pricing information and external links within their apps.

Apple sent an email notification to developers about these changes, emphasizing that the updates are specific to the U.S. storefront. The company remains steadfast in its stance, rejecting a peace proposal from Epic Games' CEO.

The following sections of the App Review Guidelines have been updated:

• 3.1.1 In-App Purchase: Apps may include external links for purchases on the U.S. storefront.
• 3.1.1(a) Link to Other Purchase Methods: Developers can include buttons and calls to action in their U.S. storefront apps.
• 3.1.3 Other Purchase Methods: Restrictions are lifted for encouraging alternative purchasing methods within the app, but only for the U.S. storefront.
• 3.1.3(a) 'Reader' Apps: Similar relaxations apply to reader apps on the U.S. storefront.

The outcome of Apple's appeal remains uncertain, and there is a possibility that these changes could become standard globally if they stand.