Rules on app purchase

Question

GregD OP

Created Jul ’15

Replies 4

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I am a bit confused on the app purchase.

I see the Renting movies within an app question below.

https://forums.developer.apple.com/thread/11512

Looking around I found this thread

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16545238/apple-in-app-purchase-alternative

I see apple's guidelines

https://developer.apple.com/in-app-purchase/

https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#purchasing-currencies

I guess my main question is,

Do apps like Amazon, Uber, etc... all pay a 30% fee when selling in the apple universe?

I cannot imagine that Amazon will pay that fee. Or do they?

thanks for any insight

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Answer 1

KMT OP

Jul ’15

No one outside of Apple & Amazon knows the details of any agreements on that level.

Did you have a technical question concerning your own app(s)?

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Answer 2

PBK OP

Jul ’15

I believe they do not. Amazon and Uber are selling physical goods and real world services so they cannot use IAP as per guideline 11.3.

Apple's guidelines require using IAP to unlock code within the app. That is not what Amazon and Uber are doing. Regarding the movie renatls, you will want to read guideline 11.14.

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Answer 3

GregD OP

Jul ’15

Thank you for your help.

We are just starting to look at building an app.

We are looking to have a member app, for our association. You must be a member to login. But free to download.

Our issue is that we have meetings. We want to have a list of our meetings. Members can view and sign up. There would be a cost with this. Usually covering room rental, food, speaker costs, etc...

Meetings will not be viewed (live/recorded) in the app. Such as a video. We have in person meetings only.

Any thoughts if we incorporated our paypal payment, is that against the rules for this? Or would this be an Apple split situation?

I see reading 11.3

11.3 Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used outside of the App will be rejected

I understand this now. Its not that they will be rejected for selling goods. But selling goods using the apple split IAP.

Very interesting.

Is there an Apple Developer (Support) email that can answer these kinds of questions?

Thank you

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Answer 4

PBK OP

Jul ’15

You might be able to operate under 11.14:

11.14 Apps can read or play approved content (specifically magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video and cloud storage) 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 only receive a portion of revenues for content purchased inside the App

All apps must do something - so the app must do something for non-members - perhaps offer them the opportunity to join. Members only will also be able to "play approved content ...purchased outside of the App" because they, and only they, will be able to get that content - like your meeting schedules and other notices. Unfortunately, as soon as you allow members to do something within the app, other than 'play approved content' you are unlocking functionality through means other than IAP.

But another approach is 'Enterprise Apps'. I believe what you are asking to do is create an app for only your "business employees" to use where your "business employees" are actually your "members". Enterprise Apps are distributed by you not through the app store. Look into it.

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