iPhone app subscription prices can now be increased without confirmation

iPhone app developers can now increase subscription fees without active user consent. It is questionable whether developers are also allowed to do this in Germany.

Previously, iPhone users had to actively agree to an increase in subscription fees. If you reject them or let the approval period expire, the subscription ends automatically at the earliest possible date. Apple now allows developers to increase subscription fees without user consent.

Change allegedly for the benefit of users

in one Post on your own developer blog Apple writes that the previous model occasionally experienced unintended interruptions when users did not respond to confirmation of increased fees. Then additional steps were necessary to complete a new subscription from the settings on iPhone and iPad or from the App Store on Macs.

With the new regulation, this can no longer happen. If users do not actively reject a price increase, they will soon automatically pay the new price set by the developer.

Automatic approvals are subject to conditions

However, to prevent abuse of the automatic consent for an increase in subscription fees, Apple has made the feature subject to several conditions: Price increases for subscriptions may not occur more than once a year. In addition, the new fees cannot exceed $5 and 50 percent of the previous price. For annual subscription models, the increase cannot exceed $50 and 50 percent of the annual price.

Model change also possible in Germany?

It is questionable whether automatic approval of a price increase for subscription models is also legally possible in Germany. For example, if users refuse to agree to an update of the terms of use within a time window, this is automatically rejected in this country. It should be similar with Apple’s plans for automatic confirmation of price increases.