Apple Abandons 30% Fee on External Links

It's another day in the ongoing Epic vs Apple saga, and it looks like Apple might have to abandon its controversial 30% commission on payments made through alternative links outside the App Store. This significant development stems from a major ruling in the legal battle that began when Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, allowed Fortnite players to make in-app purchases directly from Epic, offering them at a substantial discount.

What does this mean for consumers? Essentially, Apple has emerged as the clear loser in the initial Epic vs Apple case. Previously, Apple had to remove fees and restrictions on external links within the European Union, but the rulings in the US had been more favorable to them. Now, however, Apple is barred from doing the following: imposing fees on purchases made outside the app, restricting developers' placements or formatting of links, limiting the use of 'calls to action' like banners that highlight potential savings, excluding certain apps or developers, and using 'scare screens' to interfere with consumer choices. Apple must now employ 'neutral messaging' to inform users that they are navigating to a third-party site.

While Epic may have lost some individual battles, it appears to have won the broader conflict. Apple intends to appeal this decision, but overturning the judges' rulings seems unlikely. With the Epic Games Store for mobile already established on Android and iOS in the EU, and on Android in the US, it's possible that the iOS App Store's dominance could diminish over time.

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