Apple relaxed its App Store payment rules in the face of a scathing court order, with Spotify quick to reap the benefit.
Apple鈥檚 update to its App Store guidelines let developers know they could now provide links to outside payment platforms, allowing people to buy apps featured in its US online shop without paying through the App Store.
The rule change came on Friday just two days after a US judge accused Apple of defying an order to loosen its grip on the App Store payment system to the point that criminal charges could be warranted.
Music streaming giant Spotify said Friday that Apple had approved an update 鈥榯hat will finally allow us to freely show clear pricing information and links to purchase鈥� in its app in the US App Store.
鈥業n a victory for consumers, artists, creators, and authors, Apple has approved Spotify鈥檚 US app update,鈥� the Sweden-based service said in a post on X.
鈥楾oday represents a significant milestone for developers and entrepreneurs everywhere who want to build and compete on a more level playing field.鈥�
Epic Games chief executive Tim Sweeney shared the Spotify post along with a message of congratulations for it 鈥榖eing the first major iOS app to exercise its court mandated right to do digital commerce with customers free of Apple obstruction, interference, and the Apple Tax!鈥�
US District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found that Apple 鈥榳illfully鈥� violated an injunction she issued at trial, with the company instead creating new barriers to competition with the App Store and even lying to the court in the process.
Gonzalez Rogers ordered the injunction be enforced.
An Apple spokesperson told AFP it strongly disagrees with the judge鈥檚 decision and will appeal to a higher court, but would comply.