https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/18/apple-excludes-video-and-news-partners-from-new-app-store-rules-around-external-payments/

Apple this week updated its App Store rules to comply with a court order after the Supreme Court declined to hear the Epic Games-initiated antitrust case against Apple over commissions. As a result, developers can now promote alternative means to pay for their in-app purchases and subscriptions via links or buttons inside their iOS apps. But Apple’s compliance comes with several caveats, including technical requirements, an application process, and even what sort of apps will be allowed to direct customers to their websites. In a court filing, Apple details its new rules for developers noting, among other things, that apps participating in its existing Video Partner and News Partner program are not eligible to use the Link Entitlement.

This seems to skirt the court’s decision requiring Apple to remove the “anti-steering” clause from its agreement with App Store developers. This clause had earlier prevented developers from directing customers to a link, button, or other call-to-action inside their app that offered them another way to pay for in-app purchases, subscriptions, or other virtual goods beyond Apple’s own in-app purchase mechanism.