Apple makes it clear it will get its app commission regardless of payment method

Despite being forced into providing alternative payment systems to dating apps in the Netherlands, Apple has made it perfectly clear with developer documentation that it will still collect its App Store commission from developers.

On Saturday, Apple announced it will comply with an order from the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) to allow dating apps in the country to use alternative systems than the existing in-app purchases platform. In explaining the changes, Apple also reveals it doesn't intend on missing out on the commission it would normally take.

The developer support page for "Distributing dating apps in the Netherlands" Apple explains the affected apps have three options covering payment systems. Along with the existing IAP system, developers can also use an in-app link pointing users to a website to complete the purchase, or to use a third-party payment system within the app.

While two of the methods use transactions that Apple doesn't directly monitor or profit from, Apple does still say it wants its commission.

"Consistent with the ACM's order, dating apps that are granted an entitlement to link out or use a third-party in-app payment provider will pay Apple a commission on transactions," writes Apple. It doesn't say how much the commission is, but does say that more information will be "available shortly."

Tim Cook has specifically said that Apple would collect from developers before. During Apple's trial with Epic in May, Apple CEO Tim Cook defended the convenience and security of the App Store, but also its commission. "We would have to come up with an alternate way of collecting our commission," said Cook, before proposing Apple would have to work out how to track the transactions and invoice developers properly, as a "process that doesn't need to exist."

In a December brief, Apple attorneys continued the company line, stating that if Apple were to permit alternative in-app payments under an injunction, "Apple could charge a commission on purchases made through such mechanisms."

Still, discussions have continued online since that statement about Apple not getting any payment at all, based on assumptions about how the system would work.

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49 Comments

Cesar Battistini Maziero 397 comments · 8 Years

About 2 years ago

Very fair, they developed an audience and a platform people trust, they deserve a cut.

Every online store gets a cut from sales.

It's already bizarre that they can't control their own store.

avon b7 8006 comments · 20 Years

Cesar Battistini Maziero said:

Very fair, they developed an audience and a platform people trust, they deserve a cut.
Every online store gets a cut from sales.

It's already bizarre that they can't control their own store.

Nobody controls their own store. Before you can even open one there are huge amounts of rules and regulations to deal with.

On the face of it, this comment by Apple does not appear to be in the spirit of the rule but we'll have to see how it plays out.

At the end of the day all of this is basically part of a bigger puzzle and no one knows what it's going to look like yet.

waveparticle 1497 comments · 3 Years

Apple is perfectly entitled to collect the commission. Without Jobs invented the iPhone there is no developer app ecosystem. Developers need to thank Apple providing this opportunity to get rich quickly.

foregoneconclusion 2834 comments · 12 Years

avon b7 said: At the end of the day all of this is basically part of a bigger puzzle and no one knows what it's going to look like yet.

It's a very simple puzzle: iPhone users have access to the App Store AND the internet. You can pay for things in the App Store. You can pay for things on the internet. You can get information in the App Store. You can get information on the internet. You can use apps from the App Store. You can use web based apps on the internet.

Pretending that iPhone users don't have access to the internet and can't do all the things that they obviously CAN do on the internet doesn't really seem like a great choice for a regulatory environment.

rob53 3307 comments · 13 Years

avon b7 said:

Cesar Battistini Maziero said:

Very fair, they developed an audience and a platform people trust, they deserve a cut.
Every online store gets a cut from sales.

It's already bizarre that they can't control their own store.

Nobody controls their own store. Before you can even open one there are huge amounts of rules and regulations to deal with.

On the face of it, this comment by Apple does not appear to be in the spirit of the rule but we'll have to see how it plays out.

At the end of the day all of this is basically part of a bigger puzzle and no one knows what it's going to look like yet.

Looks like plenty of stores control their stores. I don’t know of any store that allows vendors to use a store’s space for free. Apple provides the store, provides access to it by developers and they have to be paid just like any other store.