Dutch App Store change allows dating apps take third-party payments

Apple

 

Apple has announced that it will follow a court decision to amend its App Store payment policies, allowing dating applications in the Netherlands to accept third-party payment methods.

Apple claims it is complying with an order from the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) to provide two "optional new entitlements" in a statement sent to developers on Friday. The two changes will only apply to payment processing choices in the Netherlands App Store, and they will only affect dating applications.

The notice includes a link to a new developer help website dedicated to the changes, as well as information about what developers can offer users.

The developers that are affected by the order have three options:

Continue to use Apple's in-app purchasing system.

Include an in-app link to the developer's website where customers may finish a purchase.

Within the app, use a third-party payment method.

Developers should also be aware that Apple "cannot validate the security and safety of payments that occur outside of the App Store's private and secure payment mechanism." Apple will also be unable to "help users with refunds, purchase history, subscription management, and other concerns" connected to purchases made outside the App Store since it lacks this information.

"You will be in charge of dealing with such issues with clients," Apple says.