**Apple Settles Class-Action Lawsuit: Implications for App Developers**
In recent news, Apple has settled a class-action lawsuit that could have significant implications for app developers. This case is distinct from high-profile disputes like *Epic vs. Apple* or other major litigations. Instead, it revolves around developers' ability to inform users about alternative purchasing methods outside of the App Store. For instance, apps like Netflix and YouTube can now include information in support emails directing users to their websites for cheaper subscriptions—Netflix via *netflix.com* and YouTube Premium through Google, bypassing the 30% Apple tax.
The settlement allows developers to communicate these alternatives directly, a practice that was previously unclear but widely believed to be permitted. However, the most notable aspect of this settlement is its retroactive nature, which applies exclusively to U.S. developers. This means affected developers can now claim refunds for fees paid through the App Store under certain conditions.
### Details of the Settlement
The settlement enables developers to seek compensation ranging from $250 to $30,000 depending on their historical participation in the App Store ecosystem. For smaller developers, this could make a substantial difference. It's worth noting that Apple did not technically "lose" the case; instead, they chose to settle to avoid an unfavorable outcome, as suggested by their legal team.
### Context and Timing
This development comes ahead of the iOS 15 launch, which has been met with mixed reactions from developers. Many have expressed frustration over Apple's restrictive policies, particularly when compared to Android. Some argue that developing for iOS is more lucrative, making it a challenging environment for competition, especially considering the decline of Windows Phone as a viable platform.
The timing of this settlement raises questions about whether it was strategically planned to coincide with the new iOS version or if it's merely coincidental. It also follows Apple's legal battles with companies like Epic Games, highlighting ongoing tensions in the app ecosystem.
### Broader Implications
While this settlement is a significant step for U.S. developers, it doesn't address larger issues surrounding Apple's App Store policies. Critics argue that the company continues to dominate the market, limiting choices and stifling competition. The situation underscores the complex legal and business landscape of digital platforms.
In conclusion, while the settlement provides relief for some developers, it doesn't signal a fundamental shift in Apple's approach to the App Store. The world remains larger than U.S. markets, but the impact of such decisions is far-reaching, even if felt most directly by those within the U.S.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthis is twit apple um has lost a class-action lawsuit um which is not epic versus apple or any of these other big ones this is a completely different one related to um developers um wanting to be able to tell their users about other methods to purchase the content of their app so say for example netflix can now say via email um in support emails to people you can also just sign up on netflix.com and it's cheaper and similarly youtube by the way for people who are looking at youtube premium cheaper directly on through google rather than through the app store because they're trying to offset that 30 cost and so uh app developers and now according to apple allowed to do this i personally thought that via email so out of the app store they were always allowed to do this um but um what is most important is that there is a retroactive thing and this is just for u.s developers so it does not apply to me darn it um where people can claim money back from apple if they should have been part of the small business program but um you know it didn't exist um and it depends so the amounts vary based on the developers historic participation in the app store ecosystem um and it allows people to claim sums ranging between 250 and 30 000 so for some developers this is going to make a huge difference um and sorry scooter x in chat room has just reminded me uh or just prompted me they they did not technically lose this they settled i think that was apple's lawyers saying we are gonna lose this case so we're going to settle it instead essentially what that means um not always i'm not a lawyer this is not legal advice um but um yeah so this this is interesting um i'm glad that us developers are going to be able to get some money out of this i wish european developers could too that that would be a very small chunk of change for me but you know it would be nice i'm not talking about three thousand dollars being a very small track of change i'm talking about the grand scheme of you know what has come in through the app store like 250 dollars is not gonna rock the boat here or there too much on that that's it always contributes you know new microphone may be required or something um but it is interesting that they have done this and they've done this now before ios 15 launches um i know a lot of app developers i've spoken to i am an app developer myself um i have said that developing for ios is the only app way to make money if you're going to pick between ios and android um then you're not going to make much money slash any on android versus ios where you are definitely going to make money so it feels like developers don't really have much of a choice in this at all especially because the other choice windows phone kind of just didn't work um and does not exist anymore for that precise reason um but yeah i think this is you know i i don't know if this is purely now timing to go hey people get in on ios 15 while the going's good um or if it is just coincidental but it certainly feels like maybe it was planned yeah i mean i'm not sure with i think it this is all tied in with their ongoing laws or i think they had they did trial with epic and things like that um so what is kind of interesting around the story of what apple is communicating basically where they like you said um uh on bloomberg mark german was like they already allowed people to talk in emails to their customers and talk about alternative pricing and i think there was like either a fear or like some people got punished even though it's technically allowed so they didn't actually change anything there and it's kind of just like we won't get mad at you for doing this um and i think it it just does get confusing because it's not necessarily the same claims that epic and companies like that are um lobbying against apple and so they're not like addressing those problems this is a separate sort of situation but it also has ended up being sort of a pr win for them because it's like apple is like making concessions on the app store versus that's sort of just like combining it all into one story um so i think that that was definitely an interesting part of this is that like it is there's some great parts that were definitely necessary but this isn't that overall story that like how apple treats developers and things like that still isn't just immediately fixed by something like this i'm sure the people who get the small developer assistant fund will be very happy like you said but it is i think even just the fact that it's like a settlement for the us app store only also makes a difference so it's not necessarily apple changing their tune or anything like that as it's like yeah they were making these concessions in order to not continue that lawsuit so yeah but it's still worth it the world is bigger than the us even though sometimes it does feel like it's very us centricthis is twit apple um has lost a class-action lawsuit um which is not epic versus apple or any of these other big ones this is a completely different one related to um developers um wanting to be able to tell their users about other methods to purchase the content of their app so say for example netflix can now say via email um in support emails to people you can also just sign up on netflix.com and it's cheaper and similarly youtube by the way for people who are looking at youtube premium cheaper directly on through google rather than through the app store because they're trying to offset that 30 cost and so uh app developers and now according to apple allowed to do this i personally thought that via email so out of the app store they were always allowed to do this um but um what is most important is that there is a retroactive thing and this is just for u.s developers so it does not apply to me darn it um where people can claim money back from apple if they should have been part of the small business program but um you know it didn't exist um and it depends so the amounts vary based on the developers historic participation in the app store ecosystem um and it allows people to claim sums ranging between 250 and 30 000 so for some developers this is going to make a huge difference um and sorry scooter x in chat room has just reminded me uh or just prompted me they they did not technically lose this they settled i think that was apple's lawyers saying we are gonna lose this case so we're going to settle it instead essentially what that means um not always i'm not a lawyer this is not legal advice um but um yeah so this this is interesting um i'm glad that us developers are going to be able to get some money out of this i wish european developers could too that that would be a very small chunk of change for me but you know it would be nice i'm not talking about three thousand dollars being a very small track of change i'm talking about the grand scheme of you know what has come in through the app store like 250 dollars is not gonna rock the boat here or there too much on that that's it always contributes you know new microphone may be required or something um but it is interesting that they have done this and they've done this now before ios 15 launches um i know a lot of app developers i've spoken to i am an app developer myself um i have said that developing for ios is the only app way to make money if you're going to pick between ios and android um then you're not going to make much money slash any on android versus ios where you are definitely going to make money so it feels like developers don't really have much of a choice in this at all especially because the other choice windows phone kind of just didn't work um and does not exist anymore for that precise reason um but yeah i think this is you know i i don't know if this is purely now timing to go hey people get in on ios 15 while the going's good um or if it is just coincidental but it certainly feels like maybe it was planned yeah i mean i'm not sure with i think it this is all tied in with their ongoing laws or i think they had they did trial with epic and things like that um so what is kind of interesting around the story of what apple is communicating basically where they like you said um uh on bloomberg mark german was like they already allowed people to talk in emails to their customers and talk about alternative pricing and i think there was like either a fear or like some people got punished even though it's technically allowed so they didn't actually change anything there and it's kind of just like we won't get mad at you for doing this um and i think it it just does get confusing because it's not necessarily the same claims that epic and companies like that are um lobbying against apple and so they're not like addressing those problems this is a separate sort of situation but it also has ended up being sort of a pr win for them because it's like apple is like making concessions on the app store versus that's sort of just like combining it all into one story um so i think that that was definitely an interesting part of this is that like it is there's some great parts that were definitely necessary but this isn't that overall story that like how apple treats developers and things like that still isn't just immediately fixed by something like this i'm sure the people who get the small developer assistant fund will be very happy like you said but it is i think even just the fact that it's like a settlement for the us app store only also makes a difference so it's not necessarily apple changing their tune or anything like that as it's like yeah they were making these concessions in order to not continue that lawsuit so yeah but it's still worth it the world is bigger than the us even though sometimes it does feel like it's very us centric\n"
