Apple Announces Anticompetitive Terms and Junk Fees to Undermine Alternative Stores and Payments in Brazil 

Today, Apple announced the same anticompetitive policies for alternative app stores and purchases outside apps in Brazil that they are trying to get away with in Japan. Intentionally designed to thwart competition, Apple's terms and junk fees dissuade developers from distributing outside the App Store and from offering alternative payment options. This means consumers won’t have access to special offers outside the App Store and will likely face a similar burdensome third party app store install flow that Apple requires in Japan. 

Here’s a breakdown of Apple’s new terms that stand in the way of true competition on iPhones:

• 21% fee for in-app purchases with a third party payment system
• 15% fee on purchases via a link out for 7 days for apps in the App Store (a US Court already found this to be illegal)
• 5% fee on all purchases made in third party app stores and apps installed from third party app stores
• Requiring developers to track and report to Apple all transactions made on the web via link out or in an alternative app stores, even those that are not completed

We’ll keep working with policymakers in Brazil to open up the mobile app ecosystem. Despite these requirements, we’re full speed ahead to bring the Epic Games Store to iPhones in the next few months.