Apple has reportedly solved yet another wide-ranging class action lawsuit with U.S. app makers this Thursday. And this time it was done without agreeing to major changes to its policies, which is a victory for the company after facing criticism for wielding too much power.
According to sources, the settlement was concluded at $100 million worth of payments to app makers that ranged from $250 to $30,000 per developer. However, there is also a new advertising policy, that makes it easier for developers to promote alternative pricing plans.
This new policy ensures that the Cupertino giant will not ban developers for these third-party payment communications and allow them to advertise outside pricing or payment methods within the apps themselves.
However, this new policy change leaves out some significant App Store changes that were sought by some outside developers and legislators. Apple still requires developers to sell their apps using Apple’s payment system, which takes between 15% and 30% in commissions.
This price has been reduced by Apple to 15% for developers that generate $1 million or less annually last year. The latest settlement will also not require Apple to allow third-party app stores or the so-called sideloading of software.
“This offer does nothing to address the structural, foundational problems facing all developers, large and small, undermining innovation and competition in the app ecosystem. Allowing developers to communicate with their customers about lower prices outside of their apps is not a concession and further highlights Apple’s total control over the app marketplace.”
this agreement allows for Apple to retain recent changes to the App Store search engine for the next three years. These recent changes were criticized by many and for the next three years, the apple doesn’t have to care about the critics of the policy. Within this period apple will find a sure-fire way to protect its ways.
