Google has received permission to sell e-books and audiobooks on iOS without the Apple App Store commission. This is reported by TechCrunch.
Users can now tap on the new Get Book button in the Google Play Books for iOS app, which will redirect them to the Google Play website to complete their ebook or audiobook purchase.
In addition, iOS users will be able to share their books with family members via Google Play Family Library, regardless of whether the other family member uses iOS or Android.
To implement this change, Google probably took advantage of an exception called the "External Link Account Right", which was introduced after Apple's agreement with the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) in 2022.
The rule applies to so-called "reader apps", i.e. those that provide access to digital content such as magazines, books, audio, music or video. In order to exercise this right, developers must obtain additional permission from Apple, as well as comply with certain requirements regarding the display of websites when clicking on an external link, the formatting of the link, its use in the application code, etc.