All articles tagged with #in app payments
Nearly 70% of popular Japanese smartphone games are using external payment systems to avoid high commissions from Google and Apple, ahead of new Japanese laws requiring these companies to open their payment systems, which could lead to lower costs and increased profitability for game developers.
Epic Games accuses Apple of non-compliance with a 2021 ruling that allowed developers to bypass Apple's 30 percent cut of in-app payments, alleging that Apple's revised guidelines still result in fees for external links that are essentially the same as those for in-app payments. Epic argues that Apple's actions violate the court order and make the links commercially unusable, and it seeks an order finding Apple in civil contempt and requiring it to bring its policies into compliance. Apple maintains that it has complied with the injunction with new rules allowing alternative payment buttons or links in apps.
India's Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized Google's removal of several Indian apps from its Play Store due to non-compliance with in-app payment guidelines, stating that such de-listing cannot be permitted. The dispute stems from Indian startups' efforts to resist Google's imposition of a fee on in-app payments, despite court decisions allowing the fee or app removal. The removal has sparked criticism from affected startups, including Matrimony.com and Info Edge, with concerns about revenue impact. This ongoing conflict reflects the broader tensions between tech giants and Indian startups over app store policies and fees.
Epic is preparing to challenge Apple's new 27 percent tax on developers who link to non-Apple payment methods, which it believes defies a court order to allow such links. Despite Apple's recent changes to its in-app payment policies, Epic contends that the new requirements are onerous and plans to seek court intervention. The company's lawyers are in discussions with Apple regarding a briefing schedule for a motion that has yet to be filed, and legal experts suggest that the court may not side with Apple if Epic decides to challenge the terms.
Apple has paid a fine of 1.2 billion roubles ($13.65 million) to Russia's FAS antitrust agency for alleged abuse of its dominant market position in in-app payments. This comes after a previous fine of around $12.1 million in another antitrust case. The disputes intensified after Russia's military operations in Ukraine, leading to Apple pausing product sales and limiting its Apple Pay service in Russia.
Google offered Netflix a special discounted rate of 10 percent on its in-app payments on Android in 2017, allowing Netflix to keep 90 percent of the revenue, according to documents and testimony in the Epic v. Google trial. The offer was part of Google's attempt to persuade Netflix to switch to Google Play Billing voluntarily. However, Netflix declined the offer and no longer pays Google anything for distribution via Google Play, instead directing users to subscribe and pay through a mobile browser. Netflix argued that it didn't see a scenario where Google's payment system would outperform its own. Google's attorney did not contest Netflix's claims during the trial.
An appeals court has upheld Apple's App Store policies, ruling that the closed app store and security restrictions do not violate antitrust law. However, the court found that Apple cannot maintain anti-steering rules that prevent users from learning about alternate payment options. The legal saga began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after the app began letting users make in-app purchases using Epic's own payment processor. Both Apple and Epic Games appealed the court's decision in 2021.