September 3, 2021

Apple now requires subscription and content apps, or “reader” apps, including Netflix, Disney + and Amazon’s Kindle, to give users a direct link to their website to sign up.

The shift exempts these apps from paying Apple commissions.

The move is part of a series of concessions to developers and comes as Apple battles legal and regulatory challenges to rules that app makers must abide by.

According to Apple, “reader” apps are apps that provide previously purchased content or subscriptions to app-based magazines, newspapers, books, music, and video services, and, by definition, ebook readers like Kindle, video and music streaming services like Spotify, Netflix , AT&T’s HBO Max, and Disney+ Hulu are expected to fall into this category.

Various music and video streaming apps circumvent the payment of commissions, which range from 15% to 30%, by asking subscribers to sign in and enter payment details on their websites and not in the App Store. Apple had prohibited developers from providing a link to this within their apps because it cannot earn a commission.

Experts said that these changes will hopefully allow smaller developers, who do not have the capacity to reach millions of users, a direct relationship with their subscribers.

For more information, you may view the original story from Reuters.

For more information, view the original story from Reuters.