Instapaper founder blasts Apple over iOS subscription rules

Following Apple's introduction of new rules for in-app purchases, the company has been met with increasing criticism from developers. Instapaper founder Marco Arment has outlined a long list of potential problems surrounding implementation of the new rules, which may prove particularly troublesome for apps that take advantage of third-party services.

Apple now requires developers to establish an in-app purchase (IAP) option for any services or subscriptions that are also available outside of the app. The offer must be "the same (or better)" through iTunes, allowing Apple to take a 30 percent cut.

"his would be a great guideline — developers should offer IAP to buy content, since it’s so easy for users that they’re likely to make more money overall with it," Arment argues. "But forcing all app publishers with purchase systems outside of IAP to suddenly and completely adopt it in parallel has no apparent practical or pragmatic justification. Instead, it just looks like greed."

Developers are left to wonder if their apps will be pulled if they take advantage of APIs for third-party services that customers can pay for separately. As an example, Arment asks if apps that access Salesforce or Linkedin services will be pulled if they do not add an IAP option. Each of the services offers paid levels that are not configured for iTunes purchases. Third-party apps appear to be in violation of the App Store terms until developers find a way to add the necessary IAP links and establish agreements to transfer IAP revenue to the companies that actually control the services.

"And if it’s acceptable for third parties to use the same types of paid APIs that would get first-party apps without IAP rejected, doesn’t that put the first-party apps at a competitive disadvantage and force an often-vague distinction between what is and isn’t “first-party?" Arment continues. "What if your app requires something that IAP prohibits, but that you’ve been externally charging for?"

Apple has already rejected at least one app, Readability, from the App Store for violating the new rules. It is unclear if the new terms will be followed by a comprehensive sweep of existing iOS titles, if Apple chooses to strictly enforce the rules across the entire range of apps.

"The discussion shouldn’t be whether Apple can enforce this policy, but whether they should," Arment concludes. "And if you look at what this does to developer relations, big and small, it’s easier to argue that this is likely to result in more harm than good to the iOS platform."