Spotify Submits App Update to Apple After Epic Ruling

After years of taking jabs at Apple over its App Store rules, Spotify just slid a bold update across the table. Following a court order rooted in the Epic Games lawsuit, the streaming giant has submitted a new version of its iOS app that includes an option Apple has long restricted: in-app links to external payment options.

What Changed With Apple’s In-App Payment Rules?

Thanks to a U.S. federal court ruling tied to the Epic Games v. Apple case, Apple is now under legal pressure to allow developers to offer users alternative payment options. The company has opposed this for years out of concern, presumably, for both user experience and a 30% revenue cut. But the court left little wiggle room, requiring Apple to lift this restriction by January 16, 2024.

Spotify’s Bold Test of Apple’s Compliance

Spotify wasted no time. It submitted an app update asking Apple to approve in-app messaging that lets users know they can subscribe directly on Spotify’s website — dodging Apple’s standard commission. This move tests whether Apple will comply in spirit or just check the bare minimum legal boxes.

Why This Matters for Developers

• Developers can link to their own external payment options — a major blow to Apple’s tight billing ecosystem.

• Apple is making developers jump through hoops — like submitting a Web External Link Entitlement request — to access this functionality.

• Even when allowed, Apple still demands a fee when purchases are initiated externally but influenced by the app — something Spotify pushes back on.

Tension Between Apple and Spotify Isn’t New

Spotify has been one of Apple’s most vocal critics, filing EU complaints and occasionally penning blog posts that read like open letters. They argue Apple’s rules tilt the playing field in favor of Apple’s own services — like Apple Music.

So What Happens Next?

The ball’s now in Apple’s court (metaphorically and legally). If it greenlights Spotify’s update, it cracks open a door that’s long been bolted shut. If it rejects it, we can probably expect another round of legal fireworks — and more pressure from regulators globally watching with interest.

Either way, the App Store’s walled garden is getting some serious pruning.