Apple has submitted a formal proposal to a U.S. District Court outlining its plan to charge commissions on purchases made through external links in iOS apps. The company seeks to impose a 15% commission on standard apps, with reduced rates for developers participating in certain Apple programs. Specifically, small business developers would face a 5% commission, while those involved in the Video Partner, News Partner, and Mini Apps Partner Programs would pay 10%. Subscription renewals under this plan would also be subject to a 10% fee.

This proposal comes amid Apple's ongoing legal conflict with Epic Games over accusations of anti-competitive practices tied to App Store fees. Apple had previously attempted to delay revealing its external link commission rates, arguing that court proceedings should be paused until a Supreme Court ruling related to the case was made. However, the Supreme Court denied Apple's request to halt the lower court process, prompting the company to disclose its commission structure publicly.

Apple justifies its proposed fee model by stating that it helps cover the costs related to maintaining the App Store infrastructure, software tools, and security measures. The company also compared its commission rates to those charged by Google Play, which requires a 20% fee for standard app linkouts and similarly reduced rates for special programs and subscription renewals. Apple noted that Epic Games had previously accepted Google’s rates as part of their business model.

Epic Games quickly responded to Apple’s filing, condemning the proposed fees as excessively high and outside the court’s guidelines for acceptable charges. The dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between Apple and developers over control and revenue sharing in the app ecosystem, with significant implications for how digital purchases on iOS devices might be handled going forward.