Apple just submitted its long-delayed proposal to take commissions on purchases made through external links inside iOS apps. According to TechCrunch, the numbers are significant.
After years of dodging the question in court, the iPhone giant is proposing a 15% cut for standard apps. Small business developers get 5%, subscription renewals drop to 10%. Apple says the fees offset investments in tools and tech that maintain the App Store.
The Supreme Court rejected the company's bid to pause the lower court proceedings until the top court ruled on whether Apple was in contempt for charging a 27% commission on link-outs just two years ago. The decision means no more delays. Apple must now answer to the courts about its actual demands.
This is the endgame of the Epic Games saga that began in 2020. Epic, backed by indie developers and smaller studios, forced Apple into court over the App Store tax. Apple has been losing ground. Regulatory pressure in the EU and elsewhere has already eroded the company's control. This commission structure is Apple's recalibration: if the walls come down, Apple gets paid for every window.
Apple noted that Google Play charges 20% for standard apps, making Apple's 15% appear more reasonable by comparison. Apple also pointed out that Epic agreed to Google's rates in their own settlement.
For indie game makers, social apps, and creators betting their livelihoods on direct relationships with users, the 15% remains a tax on autonomy.
The lower court still has to approve this structure. Epic Games and its developer allies continue to challenge it. Expect further disputes when Apple's proposal faces scrutiny in discovery.
