Following a recent ruling by the Netherlands’ competition regulator, Apple has published documentation detailing how alternative payment methods can be used for dating apps in the Dutch App Store (via Mobile Dev Memo).
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) had ruled on December 24th that Apple must allow dating apps published to the Netherlands’ App Store to transact with third-party, non-native iOS payments methods.
In compliance with the ACM’s orders, Apple is now allowing dating app developers in the Netherlands App Store to choose one of the following:
Apple notes that dating app developers who want to continue using Apple’s in-app purchase system may do so and no further action is needed. Dating app developers who want to use a different payment system will need to request one of two new entitlements.
“The entitlements that facilitate the ACM order are only available for dating apps on the Netherlands storefront, and apps distributed pursuant to those entitlements must only be available in the Netherlands. As a result, dating app developers using these entitlements will need to submit a separate app binary for iOS or iPadOS that may only be distributed in the Netherlands App Store.”
Apple says it will carefully review these Netherlands-specific dating apps to ensure they comply with the terms and conditions of the entitlement they choose. Apple will still take a commission but hasn’t clarified the percentage yet.
