Apple Discussed ‘Punitive Measures’ Against Netflix for Dropping In-App Purchases

As the Epic Games v. Apple trial advances into its third day, Apples internal documents and interactions with numerous companies are continuing to surface, giving us some insight into the negotiations that Apple has actually had around the App Store.
Back in December 2018, Netflix stopped offering in-app membership choices for brand-new or resubscribing members and instead started requiring them to sign up for Netflix beyond the App Store in order to prevent paying Apples 30 percent cut. As it turns out, Apple executives were unhappy with Netflixs choice, and made attempts to convince Netflix to keep in-app purchases available.
The subject hasnt yet been brought up in the live in-person trial thats going on right now, but 9to5Mac highlighted emails in between Apple executives talking about Netflixs choice. Apple started rushing to put a stop to it when Apple learned that Netflix was A/B checking the elimination of in-app purchases in specific countries.
Apples App Store Business Management Director Carson Oliver sent out an email in February 2018 describing Netflixs screening plans and asked his fellow App Store executives whether Apple must take “punitive procedures” versus Netflix.
Do we desire to take any punitive procedures in action to the test (for examples, pulling all international including during the test duration)? If so, how should those punitive procedures be interacted to Netflix? (sic).
The e-mails do not make it clear if Apple did certainly take any steps to restrict including throughout Netflixs testing, however Netflix did continue with the A/B test and found it fruitful. Ahead of when Netflix pulled in-app purchase alternatives, Apple developed an entire discussion to convince Netflix to continue to offer in-app subscription register.
Netflix was concerned about voluntary churn levels on iOS since it was higher than those who registered by means of the web. In a nutshell, iOS users who subscribed to Netflix through in-app purchases were cancelling their Netflix accounts at a greater rate, an issue that Apple worked to fix for Netflix.
Other Netflix issues included free trial abuse (which Apple resolved), un-grandfathering (raising rates on users locked in to a select cost), and using promos (wasnt possible to offer discounts on iOS). Apple internally talked about ways to fix these issues for Netflix to motivate the business to stick with in-app purchases.
Apple likewise incentivized Netflix by explaining how much devoted featuring Netflix was getting. Apple said that Netflix was featured more than any other partner, something that Apple wanted to continue doing.
Apple proposed continued collaborated featuring across iOS and Apple TV, ads promoting Netflix, App Store email campaigns, including efficiency data, an “Apple TELEVISION package” and choose video partner program advantages such as the choice to up-sell non-IAP consumers and billing flexibility to un-grandfather and cancel subscription charges.
Apple likewise discussed package offers for Netflix and an Apple service in addition to carrier and payment partners for co-funded membership deals, along with in-store marketing for Netflix, but none of these measures ultimately persuaded Netflix to stick to in-app purchases.
Today, there is no in-app purchase alternative for Netflix, and those who want to view Netflix on an iPhone or an iPad should first sign up on the internet, with Apple collecting no money. Netflix is also not permitted to direct consumers where to sign up, however, and the splash screen simply states “You cant register for Netflix in the app.”.
The Epic Games v. Apple trial is expected to last for around three weeks in overall, with Apple CEO Tim Cook and other executives set to affirm in the coming weeks.