Apple Turns Back Time on Their App Subscription Policy

Apple’s previous in-app subscription policy announced in February irked a variety of publishers and caused a massive divide on the issue. The policy stated Apple would take a 30% cut of subscriptions and limit the ability of publishers to collect a user’s information. Publishers quickly rejected this policy, and now it appears Apple has relented, according to documents of policy changes.

Here’s the old policy:

11.13 Apps can read or play approved content (magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video) that is sold outside of the app, for which Apple will not receive any portion of the revenues, provided that the same content is also offered in the app using IAP at the same price or less than it is offered outside the app. This applies to both purchased content and subscriptions. 

Here’s the revised policy:

11.14 Apps can read or play approved content (specifically magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video) that is subscribed to or purchased outside of the app, as long as there is no button or external link in the app to purchase the approved content. Apple will not receive any portion of the revenues for approved content that is subscribed to or purchased outside of the app

In other words, these change will allow subscription apps to continue, as long as no ‘Buy’ button exists within the app, and according to PaidContent now publishers can set any price they want to cover Apple’s 30% cut of subscriptions. Previously, there was confusion as whether apps like Netflix would be able to meet Apple’s deadline for publishers to adhere to these new policies. Now, it’s a green light.

[via MacRumors, All Things D]

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