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Spotify in-app subscriptions previewed – but Apple is still determined to make it impossible

Spotify in-app subscriptions previewed

Spotify in-app subscriptions aren’t currently possible, thanks to Apple’s 30% cut – but the company has today previewed the experience it hopes to offer to European customers from March.

The streaming music company shows animations comparing the current in-app experience with the one it hopes to be able to offer once Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) antitrust law comes into force on March 7 …

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Russian government says Apple paid $13 million antitrust fine over iOS App Store

Latest Apple antitrust case in Russia | App Store

Back in 2022, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) in Russia accused Apple of anti-competitive practices when it comes to the iOS App Store. Last year, the regulator decided to fine the U.S. company 1.2 billion rubles (which was $17.4 million at the time), and now the Russian government claims to have finally received the money from Apple.

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Apple’s 27% commission tactic ‘reeks of greed and avarice’ – Gruber

Apple's 27% commission | 3D render of glass Apple logo

Daring Fireball’s John Gruber has said that Apple’s decision to charge 27% commission on app sales made outside the App Store “reeks of greed and avarice.”

He also backs the view I expressed yesterday that the iPhone maker is putting itself in the firing line of regulators and legislators, while a majority of 9to5Mac commenters appear to disagree …

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Spotify calls Apple’s 27% cut of purchases outside the App Store ‘outrageous’; urges EU to ‘act switftly’

Spotify vs Apple music

Apple announced yesterday that US App Store developers may link to alternative payment methods but will still have to pay up to a 27% commission. Now Spotify has shared an official statement on the matter saying the move “flies in the face of the court’s efforts” and urging the EU to prohibit fees for outside link purchases “swiftly.”

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Apple demands $73M in Epic legal expenses

Epic legal expenses | Payment terminal

The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear appeals by either Apple or Epic Games means that the antitrust case is officially decided – and the iPhone maker is now demanding that the games company pay $73M of its $81M legal expenses.

The iPhone maker says that as there were ten issues at stake, and Apple won on nine of them, Epic should pay 90% of its legal bill …

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Apple’s 27% response to the Supreme Court decision is baiting antitrust regulators

Apple response to the Supreme Court | Judge's gavel on US flag

The US Supreme Court yesterday decided that the original ruling in the Epic Games case should stand – and Apple’s response to the antitrust ruling has been uncompromising, to put it politely.

The company’s announcement that it will allow external payments but still claim a 27% commission on sales made outside the App Store is effectively Apple giving the middle finger not just to Epic Games – which may be understandable – but also to the court which made the original ruling, and to antitrust regulators …

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Epic to contest Apple’s ‘bad-faith’ compliance plan following Supreme Court ruling on App Store

Tim Cook and Epic CEO Tim Sweeney

After a long legal dispute, the US Supreme Court ruled today that Apple will have to relax some of its App Store policies. More specifically, the company now has to let developers offer alternative payment methods. Still, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney isn’t happy with the final terms and says the company will contest Apple’s “bad-faith compliance plan.”

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Apple revises US App Store rules to let developers link to outside payment methods, but it will still charge a commission

In light of the US Supreme Court denying to hear Apple’s appeal in its legal battle with Epic Games, Apple has announced a handful of changes coming to the App Store Guidelines. Starting today, Apple is updating the App Store Guidelines to comply with the outcome of the 2021 Apple vs. Epic trial.

The changes reform Apple’s guidelines to relax its anti-steering rules that have previously prohibited developers from linking to alternative payment systems in their apps.

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First visionOS-ready apps now rolling out on the App Store

Vision Pro availability (Apple promp image showing app grid) | visionOS

A few months ago, developers with access to an Apple Vision Pro Developer Kit were given access to the App Store to download compatible iPhone and iPad apps. As Vision Pro arrives in stores in February, Apple has made it possible for developers to submit their apps to the App Store. Starting today, these visionOS apps are now rolling out to users.

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Apple tells EU it has five different App Stores, not just one

Five different App Stores | App icons depicted as physical building blocks

While Apple is making behind-the-scenes preparations for allowing third-party app stores to comply with Europe’s antitrust requirements, the company is continuing to make arguments about why it shouldn’t have to.

Latest among these is the suggestion that the App Store shouldn’t be viewed as a ‘platform’ as the company actually operates five different app stores …

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US antitrust case against Apple’s App Store exclusivity is ‘firing on all cylinders’

US antitrust case against Apple's App Store | 3D representation of App Store logo

The US antitrust case against Apple’s App Store exclusivity is “firing on all cylinders” according to the head of the Department of Justice unit responsible for policing breaches of competition law.

The implication is that Apple may soon be forced to allow third-party app stores and/or sideloading in the US as well as in Europe …

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Japan prepares regulation requiring Apple to allow sideloading in iOS

Apple App Store sideloading iOS

As the Digital Markets Act antitrust law passed in the European Union, Apple has until March 2024 to let users in Europe install iOS apps outside the App Store. Although Apple has yet to say a word about how it will do this, regulators around the world have also been considering applying the same demands to the company – and Japan could be the next country to do so.

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With third-party app stores on the horizon, Apple is working on keeping developers loyal

Apple working to fight third-party app stores | PUBG game on iPhone

We’re likely less than six months away from the launch of third-party app stores on the iPhone – at least in Europe – and Apple’s plans for this appear to be advancing.

We’ve already noted that most consumers are unlikely to switch from the official App Store, unless they are given good reason to. But Apple also needs to keep developers loyal to the platform, and a seemingly small piece of news over the weekend likely revealed how the company intends to go about this …

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App Store anti-steering ban would be consumer-friendly, with little risk to Apple

App Store anti-steering ban | Steering wheel of Ford Mustang

We learned yesterday that the European Union looks set to impose an App Store anti-steering ban on Apple. That is, Apple would no longer be allowed to prevent Spotify and other music services from linking to their own company’s website for subscription sign-ups.

The ruling we’re expecting is a narrow one, in response to a complaint filed by Spotify almost four years ago now, and will likely only apply to streaming music services. But the principle is a sound one, and is unlikely to pose any great risk to Apple …

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Epic Games victory against Google puts Apple back under App Store pressure

Epic Games victory against Google | Businessman celebrating a win against city backdrop

Yesterday saw an Epic Games victory in its court case against Google, a jury finding that the Play Store was indeed operated in an anti-competitive fashion.

This is despite the fact that Epic mostly lost a near-identical case against Apple back in 2021. The differing conclusions in the two cases puts Apple back under pressure …

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Microsoft could offer one of the first third-party app stores on iPhones

Third-party app stores | Microsoft Xbox store shown

It was confirmed back in September that Apple will need to comply with antitrust requirements relating to app sales, and it seems most likely this will require the company to allow third-party app stores on iPhones. Microsoft has now indicated its intention to run one of these.

One key driver for the plan is likely Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of mobile gaming giant Activision Blizzard …

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