Apple has submitted a proposal to a California federal court outlining a 15% commission fee for purchases made via external links inside iOS applications. This move follows years of legal battles with Epic Games over App Store antitrust policies and comes after the Supreme Court rejected Apple’s bids to further delay the proceedings.
Under the proposed structure, smaller developers will benefit from a reduced 5% rate, while participants in specific video, news, and mini-app partner programs will face a 10% fee. Subscription renewals will also be capped at the 10% tier, providing developers with more predictable cost models compared to previous restrictive practices.
The tech giant maintains that these fees are necessary to recoup investments in the tools and services powering the software ecosystem, drawing comparisons to Google Play’s external link commission rates. This framework represents a notable shift under regulatory and legal scrutiny regarding app marketplace openness.
- Apple proposes a 15% standard commission for out-of-app purchases
- Small businesses get a lower 5% rate, with 10% for special programs and renewals
- Proposal follows prolonged legal disputes and pressure from the Epic Games case
- Apple argues fees are essential to maintain its software ecosystem investments
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