gdgt

Earlier today, it was reported by various news publications that Sony's Reader app was rejected from the App Store due to a change in Apple's developer terms. Apple denied their terms have changed, but a spokesperson told Ars Technica, "We are now requiring that if an app offers customers the ability to purchase books outside of the app, that the same option is also available to customers from within the app with in-app purchase."

If true, this has some pretty huge implications. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble have created a unique work around to in-app purchasing on iOS devices. You buy content with your accounts through their websites using Mobile Safari (or a desktop / laptop browser) and it's synced to your device the next time you open the proper application. For the most part, it's a pretty easy process.

Now, Apple appears to be saying no. From here on out, if one wants to use an application that relies on purchased content, that content must be available through Apple channels, so they can take a 30% cut. For a $9.99 Kindle book, Apple would get ~$3.

Providing these reports are accurate, I think it could have some dire implications on how some of our favorite applications work. And it could result in a messy public dispute that tarnishes public perception and makes people take a closer look at the unfair competitive advantage Apple is exerting with the App Store, and iOS.

More info: arstechnica.com­/apple­/news­/2011­/02­/apple­-responds­-...