Refine recommendations on the App Store

Question

For these 2 rules:

11.1 Applications that unlock or activate additional features or functions using mechanisms other than the App Store will be rejected

11.2 Applications that use a system other than the Application Purchase API (IAP) to purchase content, functionality or services in the application will be rejected.

Is the application of these rules reduced / removed if the on / off functions / functionality (11.1) or the purchase of content (11.2) does not actually occur in the application on the device.

For example, you write an application that requires free registration, but if you go to the site outside the application (and did not connect it with the application) in order to “renew” your registration (by paying money), the application will receive even more functionality or content next time when you use it.

Thoughts?

Answer 1

My thoughts: you break the rules, but your application, of course, can be approved. Payment doesn’t really happen inside the application, but the application “uses” such a system (which is very wide), therefore, is a violation.

This reminds me of the discussions in the newsstand / subscriptions that were held earlier. Essentially, if you offer something outside the application, you have to make the same (or better) offer inside the application (through an IAP subscription). Perhaps this applies in your case. Although, according to 11.3, you cannot offer services outside your application if it is purchased through IAP (therefore, you cannot unlock functions, for example, on a website).

You will also try to offer a free application. As soon as users (somewhere, somehow) update their account, they will be able to access the application only for members, a new separate application. But the approval is still doubtful, which brings me to my last part:

“We will reject Applications for any content or behavior that, in our opinion, is below the line. Which line do you ask? Well, as the Supreme Court judge once said:“ I will find out when I see it. ”And we think that you also learn about it when you cross it. " - https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/

In short: obey, pray and find out.

Answer 2

What you are describing is similar to the situation where Dropbox apps were rejected ( Link ). Apple determined that because applications using Dropbox functionality required a user to visit Dropbox to register these applications, these rules were violated and therefore rejected.