Linking this here from the other thread, because the above comment cites the actual court documents, which clear up a lot of confusion I'm seeing on this thread. Apple's concession only applies to communications outside of the app using contact information obtained outside of the app. (Which, yes, was somehow disallowed before.)
If your user signed up through the app? Tough luck.
This "concession" only removes a rule that Apple know it never could have defended in court.
AFAIK it intends to disallow transactional emails like signup (welcome to netflix) from pushing third-party IAP:
> Developers cannot use information obtained within the app to target individual users outside of the app ... (such as sending an individual user an email about other purchasing methods ...
But that generic sentence means you can have a bulk mailing list with messages that mention your own payment option:
> Developers can send communications outside of the app to their user base about purchasing methods other than in-app purchase.
(edit: found this comment which explains it more concisely https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28324005)
(edit: for clarity)
Now you can send bulk emails to consenting account holders and mention non-IAP payment methods without running afoul of the rules.
Here's the old App Review Guideline clause (https://web.archive.org/web/20210401043354/https://developer...):
> 3.1.3 Other Purchase Methods: The following apps may use purchase methods other than in-app purchase. Apps in this section cannot, either within the app or through communications sent to points of contact obtained from account registration within the app (like email or text), encourage users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase.
That's been changed to:
> 3.1.3 Other Purchase Methods: The following apps may use purchase methods other than in-app purchase. Apps in this section cannot, within the app, encourage users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase. Developers cannot use information obtained within the app to target individual users outside of the app to use purchasing methods other than in-app purchase (such as sending an individual user an email about other purchasing methods after that individual signs up for an account within the app). Developers can send communications outside of the app to their user base about purchasing methods other than in-app purchase.
Then the AFAIK unchanged exceptions follow: "reader" (any content store), multiplatform services (yes the guidelines are made so strict allowing the use of previously purchased accounts had to be an exception, "provided those items are also available as in-app purchases within the app"), P2P, "goods and services outside the app", etc.
edit: line breaks :)
"Head to spotify.com to set up a subscription" is much better UI.
All jokes aside, the wording is wrong. Apple does not "let me". I do. And Apple indeed doesn't stop me.
In one sentence Apple not only 'backs down', but presents itself as the one who 'lets you'. Well, thanks Apple. :')
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/bipartisan-bill-targets-appl...
If lawmakers are already going to give you 200% of what you originally asked for why on earth would you settle for half?
That’s assuming it passes at all. A bill must get actually passed by both houses of congress and signed into law by the president. Until then, it’s vaporware.
And then, once a bill is passed, someone has to enforce it, and that enforcement likely has to work its way through the court system.
From what I gather, apps are still required to accept Apple Pay if they offer any type of in-app purchase.
And apps that do not work without an outside-app purchase are still rejected as well.
Apps such as Netflix & Spotify?
I wonder if some PR/research team at Apple woke up one day and finally realize the outcry re scan of iPhone in iOS 15 may actually hurt the brand longterm.
Instead of two major mobile vendors we end up with one or best case scenario two major browsers from one or two tech companies with enough resources to to build and maintain them.
