Spotify has gained the ability to include external subscription links in its iOS app, allowing users to bypass Apple’s payment system. This update, approved by Apple following a court ruling, enables users to view Spotify’s plans and promotions and make payments outside of Apple’s ecosystem, eliminating the 30% fee previously charged. The ruling stemmed from Epic Games’ victory against Apple, which mandated that Apple cease charging fees on external payment links and stop intimidating users accessing those links. Apple is currently appealing this decision, while also facing scrutiny for a VP’s misleading statements during the case.
In a groundbreaking court ruling, Spotify is now permitted to include subscription links within its iOS app in the US, enabling users to make payments externally and circumvent Apple’s payment systems. The company announced this today after releasing an updated version of its app, which received Apple’s approval following the court’s directives.
With this update, users can view all Spotify plans and promotions within the app and click on them to access an external payment page. This process allows users to avoid Apple’s payment system, which, while convenient, imposes a 30% fee on top of the plan costs. Furthermore, Apple is no longer able to levy a 27% fee on external payments or display warning screens to users when they click on external links, as mandated by the court.
This advantage for Spotify results from Epic Games’ significant victory against Apple on April 30 in a US court, where the judge instructed Apple to cease charging developers for external payment links and to stop intimidating users attempting to click on those links. The court also ruled that Apple violated a previous decision requiring it to permit developers to direct users to alternative payment systems. Additionally, an Apple VP was found to have provided false testimony, which will lead to further consequences.
Apple is currently appealing this court decision.
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