Apple wants a 15% cut on purchases made through external links

Apple is asking a federal judge for permission to take up to 15% on transactions that happen outside its App Store — payments made through external links in apps. Right now, Apple's rules require most purchases in apps to go through its own payment system, which takes 30%. That's what's under challenge. But this new proposal pushes the reach further: if the judge approves, purchases linked from inside apps would also feed Apple's cut.

The fight has been going on for years. Epic Games sued Apple over the App Store rules, and the case wound up in the Northern District of California. The original ruling blocked Apple from forcing purchases through its own system, but Apple keeps testing the limits. This latest proposal is another attempt to keep revenue flowing to Cupertino while still claiming compliance with court orders. The 15% figure is lower than the 30% Apple takes on App Store sales, but the reach is wider — it would apply to things like subscription payments, in-app purchases, and any transaction tied to an external link.

Why this matters for us: if Apple wins this, every app — including the ones we use and build — could end up paying Apple a cut on money that never touches the App Store, squeezing margins for the small businesses and creators who already operate on thin lines.