Apple has begun sending payments to select App Store developers as part of the $100 million it agreed to pay out as part of the settlement it reached in the lawsuit Cameron et al v. Apple Inc.
In 2019, a group of iOS developers accused Apple of using its App Store monopoly to impose “profit-killing” commissions. The developers were upset with Apple’s 30% cut of the action. Apple later introduced the App Store Small Business Program, cutting commissions to 15% for developers making under $1 million in a calendar year.
Developers had until May 20 to make a claim through the Small Developer Assistance website, which had tools for estimating payments.
Eligible developers were expected to receive a payment between $250 and $30,000 from Apple depending on their total App Store earnings. However, some payments might be higher in some cases since not all developers submitted a claim. Only developers in the U.S. who earned less than $1 million through the App Store per calendar year between June 4, 2015 and April 26, 2021 and that submitted a claim by the May 20, 2022 deadline will receive payment.
According to court documents, approximately 67,000 developers were eligible to submit a claim. It’s unclear how many claims were submitted.
Apple also agreed to maintain the App Store Small Business Program in its current structure for the next three years. The Cupertino company will allow developers to use communication methods like email to share information about payment methods available outside of their iOS apps.
There will also be additional 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.
