Updated August 24th, 2020 at 06:39 IST
Apple backtracks on monetising Wordpress, apologises for forcing app to add purchases
After facing severe backlash, Apple has decided to back-off and will no longer force WordPress to monetise the free app by selling premium plans, custom domains
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After facing severe backlash, Apple has decided to back-off and will no longer force WordPress to monetise its free app by selling premium plans and custom domain names so as to avail its 30 percent cut.
On Friday, August 21 it came to light that Apple was forcing WordPress to monetise its free app and the Silicon Valley giant provided an apology to its users after the backlash.
Read: WordPress Founder Matt Mullenweg Claims Apple Forced Them To Add In-app Purchases
Apple offers rare on record apology
In a statement, as quoted by The Verge, Apple said that the issue regarding WordPress had been resolved as the open-source content management system decided to stop displaying service payment options. It also added that WordPress was now a free and stand-alone app that no longer supported in-app purchases.
WordPress founder, Matt Mullenweg on August 22 posted a tweet stating that Apple was preventing the company from launching any form of updates to the app until it complied with their demands and allowed in-app purchases. In his tweet, Mullenweg asked his followers for suggestions about what could be done since he felt that offering in-app purchases was problematic.
Heads up on why @WordPressiOS updates have been absent... we were locked by App Store. To be able to ship updates and bug fixes again we had to commit to support in-app purchases for .com plans. I know why this is problematic, open to suggestions. Allow others IAP? New name?
— Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt)
Read: iPhone 12 To Launch In September? Apple's YouTube Channel May Have Leaked The Date
Mullenweg, while speaking to The Verge, stated that he was willing to give in to Apple’s demands and that WordPress was ready to incorporate a brand-new paid tiers system by the next month. It was only after WordPress agreed did Apple allow the company to make updates to the app.
After facing backlash, Apple backtracked on its earlier decision and WordPress did not have to implement in-app purchases. After the backtrack, Mullenweg posted a follow-up tweet and thanked Apple for reconsidering their decision.
I am very grateful that folks at Apple re-reviewed @WordPressiOS and have let us know we do not need to implement in-app purchases to be able to continue to update the app. Bad news travels faster than good, usually, so please consider sharing that they reversed course.
— Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt)
We will continue to be responsive and do our best to be within both the spirit and letter of the app store rules, including closing any webview loopholes that pop up. This also made me appreciate the freedom of the open and independent web.
— Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt)
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Published August 24th, 2020 at 06:39 IST