SAN FRANCISCO: Apple has updated its App Store rules to allow developers to contact users directly about payments, a concession in a legal settlement with companies challenging its tightly controlled marketplace.
According to App Store rules updated Friday, Oct 22 developers can now contact consumers directly about alternative payment methods, bypassing Apple's commission of 15 or 30 per cent.
They will be able to ask users for optional information, such as names and e-mail addresses, as long as this request remains basic said the iPhone maker.
Apple proposed the changes in August in a legal settlement with small app developers.
The concession is unlikely to satisfy firms like Epic Games developer Fortnite, with which the tech giant has been grappling in a drawn-out dispute over its payment policy.
Epic launched a case aimed at breaking Apple's grip on the App Store, accusing the iPhone maker of operating a monopoly in its shop for digital goods or services.
In September, a judge ordered Epic to loosen control of its App Store payment options, but said Apple had failed to prove that antitrust violations had taken place.
For Epic and others, the ability to redirect users to an out-of-app payment method is not enough: it wants players to be able to pay directly without leaving the game.
Apple is also facing investigations from US and European authorities that accuse it of abusing its dominant position.