4 ms·

App Store rules have never required a cut of physical transactions, only digital.

by arcticbull 4y ago

tyingq 4y ago
So, kindle books then?
- shagie 4y ago
  Exactly kindle books. And audible books. And Netflix shows. Which is why none of those companies offer the ability to purchase them directly through an app that is on the App Store.
  - tyingq 4y ago
    Ah. It does sort of highlight why a simple policy like this gets silly, and isn't great for consumers.
- matthewowen 4y ago
  Yes, which is why you can’t buy ebooks in either the Amazon app or the Kindle app. It’s not great.
  - foogazi 4y ago
    That’s Amazon’s choice because THEY also take a cut of the transaction on that book sale
    - fragmede 4y ago
      https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ and scroll to 3.1.3(a) It's not their choice, Amazon isn't allowed to by Apple's rules. A very careful reading of the rules for reader apps reveals you're not allowed to sell content on your reader app at all.
      - foogazi 4y ago
        That seems more like a carve out for reader apps to offer links to a website bypassing IAP for content > 3.1.3 Other Purchase Methods: The following apps may use purchase methods other than in-app purchase. Apps in this section cannot, within the app, encourage users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase, except as set forth in 3.1.3(a). > 3.1.1 In-App Purchase: If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, … except as set forth in 3.1.3(a).
pornel 4y ago
That was tolerable a decade ago when it was only about iTunes songs and power-ups in kids' games. But now more and more of the economy is moving online, and the Apple/Google duopoly gets to tax everything.

App Store rules have never required a cut of physical transactions, only digital.

tyingq 4y ago

So, kindle books then?

shagie 4y ago
Exactly kindle books. And audible books. And Netflix shows. Which is why none of those companies offer the ability to purchase them directly through an app that is on the App Store.
- tyingq 4y ago
  Ah. It does sort of highlight why a simple policy like this gets silly, and isn't great for consumers.
matthewowen 4y ago
Yes, which is why you can’t buy ebooks in either the Amazon app or the Kindle app. It’s not great.
- foogazi 4y ago
  That’s Amazon’s choice because THEY also take a cut of the transaction on that book sale
  - fragmede 4y ago
    https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ and scroll to 3.1.3(a) It's not their choice, Amazon isn't allowed to by Apple's rules. A very careful reading of the rules for reader apps reveals you're not allowed to sell content on your reader app at all.
    - foogazi 4y ago
      That seems more like a carve out for reader apps to offer links to a website bypassing IAP for content > 3.1.3 Other Purchase Methods: The following apps may use purchase methods other than in-app purchase. Apps in this section cannot, within the app, encourage users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase, except as set forth in 3.1.3(a). > 3.1.1 In-App Purchase: If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, … except as set forth in 3.1.3(a).

pornel 4y ago

That was tolerable a decade ago when it was only about iTunes songs and power-ups in kids' games. But now more and more of the economy is moving online, and the Apple/Google duopoly gets to tax everything.