After announcing the news last fall, Apple began accepting requests from reader app developers to allow the use of external links allowing customers to sign up and manage their accounts outside of the app. Store. Meanwhile, Apple has also changed its policy on dating apps in the Netherlands after coming under fire from Dutch regulators.
Apple shared the news in two developer updates today. First, here’s how he describes the new entitlement option for reading apps:
From today, with the update of App Store Review Guideline 3.1.3(a), reader app developers can now request access to the external link account right. This right allows player apps to link to a website owned or operated by the developer, so users can create or manage their account outside of the app. Reading apps are apps that provide one or more of the following types of digital content (magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, or video) as the primary functionality of the app.
However, some stipulations here are that to be eligible for the right, apps from developers cannot offer in-app purchases on iOS or iPadOS or allow users to log into an account with a few other requirements.
Developers can find the full documentation on the request for an external linking right on Apple developer site here.
As for changes Apple has made to its policies on dating apps forced by regulators, Dutch developers can now:
1) continue to use Apple’s in-app purchase system, 2) use a third-party in-app payment system, or 3) include an in-app link directing users to the developer’s website to complete a purchase.
Changes also include:
- Removal of separate binary requirement: Apple is removing the requirement that developers of dating apps in the Netherlands who choose to use the above rights must create and use a separate binary. This change means that developers can include either right in their existing dating app, but must still limit its use to the app in the Netherlands storefront and on devices running iOS or iPadOS.
- Payment Service Provider Criteria: Apple is providing updated and more specific criteria for evaluating non-Apple payment service providers that dating app developers in the Netherlands can use.
- Consumer Disclosures: Apps that use either right must include an in-app modal sheet that explains to users that they will be making purchases through an external payment system, and the potential impact that this choice could have on the user. Apple adjusts the language on the modal sheet and reduces the number of times the sheet should be displayed.
Read all the specifics of the StoreKit external right to dating apps in the netherlands here.
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