Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Sep 05, 2025

Apple to allow Netflix-type apps a sign-up link

Apple to allow Netflix-type apps a sign-up link

Apple will for the first time allow apps like Netflix and Spotify to link to a website where users can sign up and manage new and existing accounts.

Apple says the change to what it calls "reader apps" will apply globally from early 2022.

The change was agreed with the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), closing a five-year investigation.

The settlement does not affect in-app purchases in games, currently the subject of a US lawsuit against Apple.

At present, app developers are required to use Apple's in-app purchase systems, and cannot usually point users to buying content elsewhere.

That means that some apps only work if you already have a subscription obtained elsewhere, and do not offer in-app links to websites where you could sign up.

Apple said the agreement "will help developers of reader apps make it easier for users to set up and manage their apps and services, while protecting their privacy and maintaining their trust".

Apple currently receives a commission of between 15% and 30% on in-app purchases - its App store is a major contributor to the near $54bn (£39bn) the firm makes from its "services" segment .

Outlining its investigation the JFTC said the agreement covered "reader apps".

Apple says this would include apps providing previously purchased content or subscriptions to "digital magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video".

But the changes do not cover games, where the App Store rules are currently the subject of a high-profile US legal dispute with Fortnite developer Epic Games.

Reacting to the latest news, Epic Games' chief executive Tim Sweeney accused Apple of attempting a "divide and conquer" strategy.


Apple faces other legal challenges to how it operates its App Store.

On Tuesday, South Korea's National Assembly passed a bill that once ratified will stop Apple and Google from requiring apps to only use their in-app payment systems.

Apple had previously told the Verge that the bill would, among other issues "put users who purchase digital goods from other sources at risk of fraud".

On Thursday, another case was brought against the firm in India over the required use of its system of in-app purchases.

"The existence of the 30% commission means that some app developers will never make it to the market... this could also result in consumer harm," the filing said, according to Reuters.

Apple is also facing App Store-linked competition scrutiny from the European Commission and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
×