Google sells its e-books and audiobooks directly to customers’ licenses through its iOS app Google Play Books. While today’s iOS apps can provide access to content previously purchased elsewhere, such as e-books purchased through websites, developers must request specific exceptions to link users of their iOS apps to the company’s own website Make a purchase.
According to short posts Google’s Blogusers will now be able to click on the new Get Books button in the Google Play Books iOS app, which will take it to the Google Play website to complete their e-book or audiobook purchases.
From there, users will be able to see their recently opened book list and use their Google account and save payment information to complete the purchase.
By processing transactions on your own website, Google can avoid paying Apple A commission (usually 30%) on in-app purchases of digital content.
Additionally, users of the iOS app will be able to share their books with family groups in the Google Play home library, whether family members use iOS, Android, or the web as reading or listening devices.
To make this change, Google appears to have applied for an exception called an external link account right, initially due to Apple’s settlement with Japanese regulators, Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) in 2022.
The rule focuses on “reader applications”, which means those aimed primarily to provide access to some kind of digital content, such as magazines, books, audio, music or video. To use the rights, the developer must require Additional approval From Apple, then follow other rules about how the website appears when clicking its external link, how to format the link, how to reference the site in the app code.
It also specifies that users must see a full-screen announcement warning them that they will no longer trade with Apple after clicking an external link.
Netflix is one of the first people to pass the new rules in 2022, and can sign up to subscribe through it website.
Google doesn’t explain why it only decided to offer a direct purchase now, but it may have been waiting for the outcome of a lawsuit between Fortnite Maker Epic Games and Apple.
The case eventually found that Apple was not a monopoly, but confirmed that Apple would have to allow app developers to link to their own websites if they chose. this Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal In January 2024, the initial ruling was left in the lower court’s position.
