Observed Signal · Aug 14, 2026 · Policy Update · Source: techcrunch · Impact: 5/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Apple proposes 15% commission on external app purchases
Apple filed a proposal in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking to charge commissions on purchases completed via external links or payment systems outside the App Store, with a tiered structure: 15% for standard apps, 10% for Video Partner, News Partner and Mini Apps Partner participants and for subscription renewals, and 5% for Small Business Program developers. The filing asks Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to refer Apple and Epic Games to a confidential settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero; Apple said it approached Epic on August 11 but Epic did not consent. Epic rejects the proposed fees as inconsistent with Ninth Circuit guidance. The disclosure follows the Supreme Court’s refusal to pause lower-court proceedings tied to Apple’s litigation with Epic and alleged contempt over a 27% off‑App Store charge; Apple defended the fees as recouping App Store investments and compared them to Google Play rates.
Policy update from a major platform (Apple) affecting app purchase economics and developer revenue; ties into high-profile Epic Games litigation and sets potential precedent for app payment rules and fees.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Apple filed in the U.S. District Court (Northern District of California) proposing commissions on purchases via external links/outside the App Store.
- Proposed tiers: 15% standard; 10% for Video Partner, News Partner, Mini Apps Partner programs and subscription renewals; 5% for Small Business Program.
- Apple asked Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to refer the parties to a confidential settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero and said it approached Epic on Aug. 11; Epic did not consent.
- Epic Games rejected the proposed fees as inconsistent with Ninth Circuit guidance; the proposal is part of ongoing litigation between Apple and Epic.
- The filing follows the Supreme Court’s refusal to pause lower-court proceedings about Apple’s alleged contempt over a 27% off‑App Store charge; Apple said the fees recoup App Store investments and compared them to Google Play rates.
Connected Companies & Entities
5 Entities mapped“In a new filing in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, Apple proposed new commissions of 15% for standard apps, with further dis...”
“The iPhone maker has been engaged in a years-long legal battle with Epic Games over its alleged anti-competitive policies regarding App Stor...”
“The company also compared its link-out fees to those on Google Play, which charges 20% link-out rates for standard apps, 15% for apps in spe...”
“When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence....”
“The article links to Bloomberg reporting about the Supreme Court rejecting Apple’s bid to pause further action in the lower court’s case....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
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Apple Appeals App Store External-Payments Ruling
Apple has filed to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Ninth Circuit ruling that limits how it can charge for external payments tied to App Store apps. The company is also seeking a stay of the appeals court’s contempt finding that its 27% commission on purchases using developers’ own payment systems undermined the court-ordered right to link to external payment options. The dispute stems from Epic Games adding external payments to Fortnite in 2020 to bypass App Store fees; lower courts and the Ninth Circuit found Apple in contempt in December 2025 and sent the issue back to a lower court. Apple argues the fee reflects broader App Store services, while Epic and developers say the charge defeats the court’s intent. Epic spokesperson Natalie Munoz criticized Apple’s stay request as a delay tactic.
Apple revises EU App Store fees and rules
Apple will implement a single EU developer-terms model effective October 1, 2026, to comply with the Digital Markets Act, allowing developers to distribute iPhone apps via third‑party marketplaces or websites and to offer or point users to alternative payment options while retaining Apple IAP. The plan removes prior initial-acquisition and store-services fees and adds a 5% Core Technology Commission on transactions for apps distributed outside the App Store. Published tiered fees set Apple IAP at generally 26% (many eligible for 15%), external-payment processing at 20% (reducible to 10% for qualifying/small-business programs), and website link‑outs at 15%. Developers must commit to a chosen payment option for 12 months. Apple eased rules for alternative marketplaces and added parental-control measures; the European Commission will monitor implementation. Epic criticised the terms and Apple is appealing a €500 million DMA fine.
Google Drops Play Store 30% Commission After Epic
Google is ending the 30% commission on the Play Store and introducing a looser payments framework and a first-of-its-kind program for registered third‑party app stores. The move, prompted by the Epic Games dispute over Fortnite, aims to increase developer revenue shares, expand user choice, and allow alternative payment methods. The general rate drops to 20%, with 15% for programs like App Experience or Google Play Games Level Up and 10% for subscriptions. Developers may employ non-Google payment methods or direct users to their own websites; if billed through Google Play, a 5% fee applies in the EEA, UK, and US. Google is also launching a program for registered app stores, permitting third‑party Android marketplaces under security standards and with a simplified installation experience, though sideloading remains possible. Rollout starts in mid‑2026 and concludes globally by 2027. An out‑of‑court settlement between Google and Epic in November 2025, worth around $800 million, will see Fortnite return to Google Play worldwide. The changes also pressure Apple’s App Store model.
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