Apple becomes a debt collector with its new developer agreement(techcrunch.com)

12 pointsby reliefcrewvor 7 Monaten4 comments

Apple becomes a debt collector with its new developer agreement

https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/18/apple-becomes-a-debt-collector-with-its-new-developer-agreement/

4 comments

benoauvor 7 Monaten

I wish the EU would hurry up and decide if up-to-20% fee for using external payment services abides with their April instructions "must be free". It seems like Apple needs a good nudge to move past rent-collector and now debt-collector mentality.

I wonder if Japan will react to Apple's newly announced conditions for them, where you can use IAP and pay 15 or 26% commission, or not use IAP and pay 10% or 21% commission + your payment provider so the prices are effectively the same either way + other terms like those in the article, which basically means you get nothing but headache for not using IAP.

This tactic is specifically illustrated in Japan's compliance hypotheticals (on page 51):

> Hypothetical Scenario 73: A designated provider, when individual app providers use alternative payment management services, demands fees or places financial burdens at a level that creates a high likelihood of making the use of such services practically difficult

https://www.jftc.go.jp/file/MSCA_Guidelines_tentative_transl...

reliefcrewvor 7 Monaten

IDK what the fee schedule looks like but you'd think they'd take a play from governments and make the commissions progressive.

In other words, the more money a developer makes, the more fees they pay. That way there's better incentive for smaller shops and developers to join. They might also look somewhat more benevolent.

Is that how it already works?

reliefcrewvor 7 Monaten

"Apple on Wednesday released an updated developer license agreement that gives the company permission to recoup unpaid funds, such as commissions or any other fees, by deducting them from in-app purchases it processes on developers’ behalf, among other methods."

They're really not happy about Epic games lawsuit, huh!?

See also:

https://applemagazine.com/apple-app-store-external-payment-f...

nacozarinavor 7 Monaten

as long as ppl sign bad agreements, apple is incentivized to offer worse ones.