Apple amends US App Store guidelines following loss against Epic Games in legal dispute

On April 30, a judge once again ruled in favor of Epic Games against Apple, allowing Fortnite to return to the App Store in the US. Following the ruling, Apple has updated its store guidelines, specifically the parts about in-app purchase and developers adding external links. Apple has begrudgingly done so and will reportedly appeal this decision.

The news section on the Apple developer website shows the updated guidelines in compliance with the Unites States court decision “regarding buttons, external links, and other calls to action in apps.” These changes are only for the US storefront. Section 3.1.1 that covers in-app purchases has a sub-section for ‘Link to Other Purchase Methods.’ This section states that developers can apply for “entitlements” to add links to a website they own or maintain for digital purchases. While this isn’t new, it is followed by an addition that states developers are not required to apply for these entitlements if they want to add buttons, external links, or CTAs (call to action) in their apps for the US App Store.

Similarly, section 3.1.3 regarding ‘Other Purchase Methods’ has an addition following the original guideline, “Apps in this section cannot, within the app, encourage users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase.” The addition states, “except for apps on the United States storefront and as set forth in 3.1.1(a) and 3.1.3(a).”

Furthermore, after the original ruling against Apple in 2021, while the company did allow apps to link to non-Apple payment systems, it added “scare screens” that would state Apple will not be responsible for the privacy and security of purchases made on the web when users tried to visit external purchase links. This section has also been seemingly removed from the US page. 

Following the April 30 ruling, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney shared the update on X that after over four years, the Apple tax is finally gone. He also made a peace proposal stating Epic will forgo all litigation if Apple makes these changes to guidelines globally. In a statement to various publications, Apple said it strongly disagrees with this decision and while it will comply, there will be an appeal.