Apple's Plan to Pay $100 Million to Settle Developer Lawsuit Gets Preliminary Approval From Judge

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Back in August, Apple said that it would pay out $100 million and make several changes to the App Store to settle a class-action lawsuit brought about by developers, and the settlement offer received preliminary approval yesterday from Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers, who is overseeing that case in addition to the Epic v. Apple lawsuit.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Apple will create a $100 million "fund," which developers can access based on their historic ‌App Store‌ proceeds. Developers who earned $1 million or less through the U.S. storefront for their apps in every calendar year between June 4, 2015 and April 26, 2021 can receive between $250 and $30,000. Higher payments will be made to those who have participated more extensively in the ‌App Store‌ ecosystem.

Eligible developers will be able to make claims when the settlement receives final approval, and can sign up to be alerted when claims are being accepted through a website created for the lawsuit.

In addition to paying $100 million, Apple agreed to maintain the ‌App Store‌ Small Business Program in its current structure for the next three years, and it will allow developers to use communication methods like email to share information about payment methods available outside of their iOS apps.

Other terms include more ‌App Store‌ pricing options, the publication of an annual transparency report based on ‌App Store‌ data, and tools that allow developers to appeal the rejection of an app. Full details on what Apple has agreed to can be found in our original settlement article.

The lawsuit dates back to 2019, when a group of iOS developers accused Apple of using its ‌App Store‌ monopoly to impose "profit-killing" commissions. The developers were unhappy with Apple's 30 percent cut, an issue that was largely resolved when Apple introduced the App Store Small Business Program and cut commissions to 15 percent for developers making under $1 million in a given calendar year.

Going forward, briefs, papers, and memoranda in support of the final approval of the settlement must be filed by April 29, 2022, and a Fairness and Final Approval Hearing will take place on June 7, 2022. If and when final approval is granted, developers will begin to receive money from Apple.

Tags: App Store, Apple Lawsuits

Top Rated Comments

sw1tcher Avatar
sw1tcher
32 months ago

Wow! This is huge!
Not really.

$100 million is only 0.174% of the $57.411 billion in net income Apple took in for fiscal year 2020 ;)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
higgalls Avatar
higgalls
32 months ago

Another case where Apple could've done the right thing and offer out the "fund" proactively as they have all the sales data. They know who should be getting it yet they wait for people to come forward in the hope they don't. They make them go through a process to put a barrier up. It's poor UX and it shows exactly how money grubbing they've become and the disdain they have for the developers on their ecosystem.
Actually, my guess is that this is probably a legal requirement, because in applying for the fund will probably mean that the developer gives up any legal right to launch their own legal case over apple to try and get a better deal for themselves. These sorts of legal funds happen all the time, and you need to explicitly opt-in. Now I am not a legal expert, so I could be wrong, but that's my guess why this is the case.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TracesOfArsenic Avatar
TracesOfArsenic
32 months ago
Another case where Apple could've done the right thing and offer out the "fund" proactively as they have all the sales data. They know who should be getting it yet they wait for people to come forward in the hope they don't. They make them go through a process to put a barrier up. It's poor UX and it shows exactly how money grubbing they've become and the disdain they have for the developers on their ecosystem.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
firewood Avatar
firewood
32 months ago

Apple does in-deed have a Monopoly !
Your opinion doesn't matter to anybody but you. Only the opinion of a trial judge or appeals court with jurisdiction actually might affect Apple, developers, or customers in any way. Latest U.S. court case ruled no monopoly. Under appeal, so you might be right. Or not.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wildkraut Avatar
Wildkraut
32 months ago
Apple better start repatriating more money... this won't be the last payment they will have to do.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
now i see it Avatar
now i see it
32 months ago
Compared to the untold billions they’ve made off the App Store, 100 million is a rounding error.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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