Apple has long allowed content producers to give away an app at no cost on the App Store and then sell subscriptions to access their content through their own website.
>publishers can sell digital subscriptions on their web sites, or can choose to provide free access to existing subscribers. Since Apple is not involved in these transactions, there is no revenue sharing or exchange of customer information with Apple.
The sticking point in my eyes has been that the free app cannot provide a link to the website where you buy a subscription to the content.
>Apple does require that if a publisher chooses to sell a digital subscription separately outside of the app, that same subscription offer must be made available, at the same price or less, to customers who wish to subscribe from within the app. In addition, publishers may no longer provide links in their apps (to a web site, for example) which allow the customer to purchase content or subscriptions outside of the app.
>publishers can sell digital subscriptions on their web sites, or can choose to provide free access to existing subscribers. Since Apple is not involved in these transactions, there is no revenue sharing or exchange of customer information with Apple.
https://mashable.com/2011/02/15/apple-subscription-model/
The sticking point in my eyes has been that the free app cannot provide a link to the website where you buy a subscription to the content.
>Apple does require that if a publisher chooses to sell a digital subscription separately outside of the app, that same subscription offer must be made available, at the same price or less, to customers who wish to subscribe from within the app. In addition, publishers may no longer provide links in their apps (to a web site, for example) which allow the customer to purchase content or subscriptions outside of the app.
https://mashable.com/2011/02/15/apple-subscription-model/