Apple Does Away With App Store Subscription Rules

Only yesterday we reported that the Financial Times business newspaper was pulling the plug on their iTunes app dues to them not agreeing with Apple’s rules stating that subscription based apps had to give a 30%  cut to Apple. Now it looks like Apple has decided to do away with that particular policy, perhaps a day too late for Financial Times? Let’s hope not.

Previously the App Store guidelines read:

Apps can read or play approved content (magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video) that is sold outside of the app, for which Apple will not receive any portion of the revenues, provided that the same content is also offered in the app using IAP at the same price or less than it is offered outside the app. This applies to both purchased content and subscriptions.

The new App Store guidelines read:

Apps can read or play approved content (specifically magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video) that is subscribed to or purchased outside of the app, as long as there is no button or external link in the app to purchase the approved content. Apple will not receive any portion of the revenues for approved content that is subscribed to or purchased outside of the app.

This is good news for publishers as they can now create apps and be able to price them as they wish without having to factor in Apple’s 30% cut, which means these savings could be passed on down to the customers too.