With iOS 17With the launch of 4, Apple's app ecosystem changes in the EU have come into effect. The company said today that it has made some final updates to its terms of service after receiving feedback from developers. Developers who want to publish their apps through the Marketplace, reduce the fees they pay Apple, or adopt other payment methods will have to choose new commercial terms, accept core technology fees, and other new pricing rules.
Apple didn't initially offer developers a way to try out the new system, and developers could opt out if they didn't succeed, but now in some cases, developers can choose to change terms one at a time.
Apple said that developers have a one-time option to terminate the addendum to the new rules[pdf] and return to Apple's standard commercial terms, but this is conditional. Developers who want to change back to standard commercial terms can't publish their apps through other marketplaces or use other payment processing methods.
You may terminate this Addendum without having to terminate the Developer Agreement once at the same time, provided that you have never made the Application an Alternative Application Marketplace (EU), published through the Alternative Application Marketplace (EU), used a link output, or used Alternative Payment Processing.Developers can opt out if they decide to continue publishing their apps through the App Store with a combination of core technology fees and reduced commissions. After 1,000,000 times, the CTF is 0 per time€50 with a 13% commission for small business owners and 20% for installs over 1 million (including App Store payment processing fees).
Developers looking to create an alternative marketplace can now create the marketplace without having to issue a standby letter of credit of €1 million, which would restrict large companies from creating the marketplace. Developers who have been a qualified member of the Apple Developer Program for two or more consecutive years and whose apps have had more than 1 million first annual installs on EU iOS in the previous calendar year do not require proof of funds to create a marketplace.
There is also no longer a requirement for a corporate entity when registering new terms, so large businesses can register at the developer account level without having to have each controlling member approve the exchange to the updated commercial terms.
With iOS 174, we should soon see the first alternative app marketplaces launched. Developers are now free to adopt new commercial terms, publish apps outside of the App Store, and use third-party payments in their apps. Please note that all of these changes are limited to developers and users in the EU.