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Apple is (temporarily) waiving its App Store fee for Facebooks online events

Last month, Facebook introduced support for paid online events and since many of the businesses offering those events have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic, the company also said it would not collect fees for the next year.

At the same time, it complained that Apple had dismissed its requests to waive the App Stores customary 30% fee on in-app purchases.

Today, Facebook is announcing a reversal on Apples part: Online event fees will be processed through Facebook Pay, without Apple collecting its 30% cut, meaning businesses will receive all of the earnings from their online events, minus taxes.

And while the two companies appear to have come to an agreement, todays statements from Facebook are still a bit barbed.

Apple has agreed to provide a brief, three-month respite after which struggling businesses will have to, yet again, pay Apple the full 30% App Store tax.

When asked about the change, Apple provided the following statement: The App Store provides a great business opportunity for all developers, who use it to reach half a billion visitors visitors each week across 175 countries. To ensure every developer can create and grow a successful business, Apple maintains a clear, consistent set of guidelines that apply equally to everyone.

More specifically, Apple said its giving Facebook until the end of the year to implement in-app payments for these events and bring them into compliance with App Store rules.

This also comes as Fortnite-maker Epic Games is waging a legal battle and publicity campaign against Apples App Store fees,with Fortnite removed Fortnite from the iOS App Store. Epic is also part of a just-announced group of publishers called the Coalition for App Fairness, which is pushing for app store changes or regulation.

Original article
Author: Anthony Ha

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