Executives at several Chinese Internet companies say Apple may consider relaxing its controversial in-app purchase policy to allow tipping of original content, The Paper reported.
The executives asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the potential change.
A draft amendment of Apple Store Review Guidelines received by The Paper said app users can choose not to use the in-app purchase method to give a currency gift to other users under certain conditions, including that the recipient shall get the full amount of money transferred by the sender.
Chinese game developers and content providers on messaging app WeChat are reportedly upset with the iPhone maker after it defined tips as in-app purchases. WeChat's tipping function allows users to send money directly to authors of posts or photos, but Apple considers the financial transaction to be a form of in-app purchases, meaning it can take a 30 percent cut.
Apple has made no comment on the speculation or formally updated its guidelines. Some insiders said no final decision has been made on the tipping policy as it's a complicated matter, according to The Paper.
Other social media apps, including the news-aggregation app Jinri Toutiao, also have similar tipping services to encourage content creation.
IT lawyer Zhao Zhaling has accused Apple of misusing its market dominance and engaging in unfair competition. He called for the Chinse commerce regulator to launch an anti-monopoly investigation.
