We’ve had to communicate with App Store Approvals on many occasions, and while Apple does have enhanced the usability, security and verification of “useful Apps”, often times, it may be required to challenge their Decisions for disapproval of Apps to be published on the App Store.
Apple announced two major changes in how it treats App Store disputes with App developers from third parties. The first is that Apple now allows users to rely on a certain breach of an App Store policy and that the rule itself will also be challenged by a separate process. Apple also says that patches to software that patch vulnerabilities and other core functions in the App Store disputes will not be postponed.
Apple offers more ways to query its App Store decisions by enabling developers themselves to contest the guidelines. And it’s not going to block bug fixes for violations of the code.
App Creators Disapproval of the Process
After blocking an update to Hey, a new email app from developer Basecamp, the company’s App Store review processes were under scrutiny because Hey did not have an option for purchasing applications to register for its 99 $a-year service.
Instead, Basecamp decided to process subscriptions via its own website, avoiding the 30% share of the income Apple would earn in the first year and a 15% split every year thereafter, if it had received Apple’s in-app payments.
Apple said that bug fixes for already approved applications would no longer be delayed for policy violations except in relation to legal problems. This move is designed to enable developers in their next submission to fix any problems.
“We firmly believe we did what @pschiller asked us to do, but Apple still holds all the power. All we can do now is pray that feverishly working the Father’s Day weekend is enough to appease Apple,”
David Heinemeier Hansson – Basecamp cofounder and CTO
Challenge Apple App Review Board
It remains to be seen whether this change actually meets Apple ‘s guidelines. According to Basecamp co – founder and CTO David Heinemeier Hansson, Apple is currently reviewing a new application update.
The timing of Basecamp ‘s argument with Apple is bad for the iPhone manufacturer. Last week the European Commission launched an investigation into the breach of EU competition laws by Apple’s App Store policies. The commission investigates whether developers are required, after a Spotify complaint, to use Apple’s in-app purchases.
Apple Agrees to a compromise
On Monday, in the lead up to the keynote, Apple surrendered to Hey’s updates after an agreement by Basecamp that lets you register for a brenner account that expires two weeks later. If this transition is going to satisfy Apple or if Basecamp is going to continue to make more improvements in future will remain to be seen; no in-app purchasing feature is included in the app.