# ScopeDOPE — External Purchase Link Strategy

**Prepared by:** Cold Bore Ballistics LLC
**Status:** Internal — Confidential
**Purpose:** Strategy and implementation guide for the direct web purchase channel

> ⚠ **PROVISIONAL — time-sensitive legal inputs.** Two matters resolve around the
> v1.0.0 launch window (~June 30, 2026) and change the economics below:
> - **Apple:** Supreme Court cert/stay petition expected late June / early July 2026.
>   The Ninth Circuit (Dec 2025) upheld the contempt finding but allowed Apple a
>   "reasonable commission" tied to demonstrable costs; the district court has
>   **not yet set that rate**, so the US external-link commission is **0% today**.
> - **Google:** post-settlement fee structure goes live **June 30, 2026** (US/UK/EEA).
>   Until then the pre-rollout rules apply.
>
> Confirm both at launch and lock the model then. All figures use **verified
> 2026-06-09 rates** and are presented as **bands** where a rate is unsettled.

---

## Table of Contents

1. [Legal Basis](#1-legal-basis)
2. [What the External Link Actually Is](#2-what-the-external-link-actually-is)
3. [What Is and Is Not Affected](#3-what-is-and-is-not-affected)
4. [Economics: Store vs. Direct](#4-economics-store-vs-direct)
5. [Channel-by-Channel Application](#5-channel-by-channel-application)
6. [Disclosure Requirements](#6-disclosure-requirements)
7. [Infrastructure Required](#7-infrastructure-required)
8. [Risks and Caveats](#8-risks-and-caveats)
9. [Recommended Approach](#9-recommended-approach)

---

## 1. Legal Basis

Two separate legal developments created the external purchase link opportunity in
the US. Both remain in force as of this writing, but both are still moving.

### 1.1 Apple — Contempt Order and Ninth Circuit Narrowing

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers (N.D. Cal.) found Apple in **willful contempt** of
her 2021 injunction in *Epic Games v. Apple* (April 30, 2025) after Apple imposed
a 27% commission on external transactions, and barred Apple from commissioning
US external-link purchases.

In **December 2025 the Ninth Circuit partially reversed**: it upheld the contempt
finding but held Apple **may charge a "reasonable commission" tied to demonstrable
costs** of coordinating the external hand-off, and remanded the rate question to
the district court.
([Perkins Coie](https://perkinscoie.com/insights/update/epic-v-apple-ninth-circuit-weighs))

**Current state (2026-06-09):** On the US storefront **no entitlement is required**
and the **external-link commission is 0%** until the district court approves a
specific rate (Apple Review Guidelines §3.1.1(a)).
([Apple Developer — External Purchase](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/storekit/external-purchase),
[Neon Commerce](https://www.neonpay.com/blog/apple-app-store-alternative-payment-fees-what-developers-pay-in-2026))
Apple has petitioned the **Supreme Court**; a cert/stay decision is expected late
June / early July 2026. **The 0% external rate could change** to a small
court-approved coordination fee — see §8.

### 1.2 Google — Play Injunction Upheld; Post-Settlement Fees

The *Epic Games v. Google* injunction (Dec 2023 verdict) was upheld on appeal
(Ninth Circuit, Sept 12, 2025). Google updated US Play policies effective
**Oct 29, 2025** to permit external links and lift anti-steering restrictions.

On **March 4, 2026** the court approved a global Epic/Google **settlement** that
restructured fees. The new structure goes live **by June 30, 2026** in US/UK/EEA
([TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/google-settles-with-epic-games-drops-its-play-store-commissions-to-20/),
[Google Play Console Help](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/15582165?hl=en)):

| Google fee component | Rate |
|---|---|
| Service fee — new-install in-app purchase | **20%** |
| Service fee — recurring subscription | **10%** |
| Google Play billing (separate, on top of service fee) | **+5%** |
| **Apps Experience program** — new install | **15%** |
| **Link-out** (purchase within 24h of in-app link) | **20%** |

> **Correction of record:** an earlier version of this document cited "Google 5%."
> That was the *billing-system component only*, not the total. Standard Google
> in-app is ~**25%** (20% + 5%); the **Apps Experience** program is **15%**.
> Whether CBB qualifies for / enrolls in Apps Experience is an open decision that
> sets the low end of every band below.
>
> **Launch-timing caveat (2026-06-09):** the Apps Experience program's US rollout
> is **by ~Sept 30, 2026 — *after* the ~June 30 v1.0 launch.** The 15% tier is
> therefore **not available at launch**; Android in-app at launch is the standard
> **~25%**. So at launch the realistic blended in-app fee sits at the **high (21.5%)
> end** of the band, and the **direct-channel advantage is at its larger value**
> (+$8.07/sale, not +$5.14). Apps Experience also requires meeting Google's
> adaptive multi-form-factor quality benchmarks (tablet/foldable layouts) — an
> engineering investment, not a checkbox. Treat it as a **post-launch** margin
> decision (§9).

---

## 2. What the External Link Actually Is

The external purchase link is a **single button or link inside the app** that
navigates the user to CBB's own **Shopify** checkout, where they pay via
**Shopify Payments**. Apple and Google handle no part of the payment. The app
stays on both stores for discovery; the link **supplements** the standard in-app
purchase path — it does not replace it.

**On iOS:** Implemented via Apple's external-link capability. On the US storefront
no entitlement is currently required (§1.1); a neutral disclosure is still best
practice (§6).

**On Android:** A standard deep link / URL intent. Google's post-injunction policy
permits this for US-market apps without additional approval.

**User flow:**
1. User opens ScopeDOPE → purchase screen.
2. Two options: "Buy in App Store / Google Play" (standard IAP) and "Buy on
   scope-dope.com" (external link).
3. iOS shows a neutral disclosure (§6); user taps Continue.
4. Browser opens to `scope-dope.com/buy`.
5. User completes checkout via Shopify Payments.
6. Shopify issues a license token; the app receives and validates it (§7).

---

## 3. What Is and Is Not Affected

### Affected (can use external checkout)

- **One-time app purchase** — $29.99 intro / $44.99 primary — via the CBB website.
- **Barrel-maker referral channel** — discount/referral codes redeemed at CBB checkout.
- **Club/affiliation bulk codes** — organizations purchase at CBB checkout.
- **Future optional add-ons** (e.g. cloud sync) — if/when offered; see §5.4.

> There is **no "lifetime license"** product. There is **no app subscription**.
> The app is a one-time purchase at $29.99 intro / $44.99 primary, permanently.

### Not affected (still platform billing)

- Any purchase initiated **inside the app** via the standard store payment flow —
  platform fees apply to those.
- Any add-on **auto-renewal** that originated through a store — renews on the
  store track at the platform rate.
- Non-US iOS regions (EU DMA and other regions have separate rules).

### Still required

- The app must remain distributed through both stores (no general-consumer
  direct APK/IPA for US iOS).
- App Store review applies to the app including the external-link UI — the link
  must not be deceptive.
- The standard IAP path must remain available alongside the external link.

---

## 4. Economics: Store vs. Direct

All direct figures use **Shopify Payments: 2.9% + $0.30** (Shopify Basic, native
processor, **no** 2% third-party surcharge).
([Shopify Help — Fees](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/pricing/fees))
In-app figures use Apple **15%** (SBP) and Google **15%–25%** (Apps Experience to
standard). Refunds excluded here (per-transaction view); the revenue model applies
its 2% refund assumption separately.

### 4.1 Per-Transaction at Primary Price ($44.99)

Each row names the fee that channel actually pays — a **platform commission** on
the store rows, **payment processing** on the direct row. "CBB nets" is what's
left after that fee. "vs. direct" shows how much more CBB keeps by selling that
same buyer through the direct link instead.

| Channel | Price | Fee taken off the top | CBB nets | vs. direct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iOS in-app | $44.99 | Apple commission 15% = $6.75 | $38.24 | direct keeps **+$5.14** |
| Android in-app — Apps Experience | $44.99 | Google commission 15% = $6.75 | $38.24 | direct keeps **+$5.14** |
| Android in-app — standard | $44.99 | Google commission 25% = $11.25 | $33.74 | direct keeps **+$9.64** |
| **CBB direct (Shopify Payments)** | $44.99 | Card processing 2.9% + $0.30 = $1.60 | **$43.39** | — |

**Read:** selling direct nets CBB **$43.39** — between **$5.14 and $9.64 more per
sale** than the store would leave, depending on which store/tier the buyer would
otherwise have used. (Apple has no in-app commission on the direct row because
Apple/Google handle none of a direct transaction; the store rows have no card-
processing line because the platform bundles payment into its commission.)

### 4.2 Per-Transaction at Intro Price ($29.99)

Same structure at the introductory price:

| Channel | Price | Fee taken off the top | CBB nets | vs. direct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iOS / Android in-app — 15% | $29.99 | Platform commission 15% = $4.50 | $25.49 | direct keeps **+$3.33** |
| Android in-app — standard 25% | $29.99 | Google commission 25% = $7.50 | $22.49 | direct keeps **+$6.33** |
| **CBB direct (Shopify Payments)** | $29.99 | Card processing 2.9% + $0.30 = $1.17 | **$28.82** | — |

**Read:** direct nets **$28.82** at intro — **$3.33 to $6.33 more per sale** than
the store leaves.

### 4.3 Blended Direct Advantage (65% Android / 35% iOS)

Measured against the **blended in-app net** the buyer would otherwise yield:

| Price | Google tier assumed | Blended in-app net | Direct net | **Direct advantage/sale** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44.99 | Apps Experience (15%) | $38.24 | $43.39 | **+$5.14** |
| $44.99 | Standard (25%) | $35.32 | $43.39 | **+$8.07** |
| $29.99 | Apps Experience (15%) | $25.49 | $28.82 | **+$3.33** |
| $29.99 | Standard (25%) | $23.54 | $28.82 | **+$5.28** |

> An earlier version cited a flat "+$5.15/sale." That is correct **only** at the
> Apps-Experience (15%) tier — it is the *floor* of the range, not a point value.
> At standard Google fees the advantage is larger (+$8.07).

### 4.4 Direct-Channel Extra Revenue at Scale

Assuming **30%** of buyers complete via the direct link (conservative for a niche
product where community word-of-mouth drives traffic to the site first), at
primary price $44.99:

| Scenario | Installs | Direct buyers (30%) | Extra @ Apps Exp (+$5.14) | Extra @ standard (+$8.07) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modest | 500 | 150 | **$772** | **$1,210** |
| Solid | 2,000 | 600 | **$3,086** | **$4,841** |
| Strong | 5,000 | 1,500 | **$7,716** | **$12,102** |

These are additive to the existing revenue model. The capture rate could exceed
30% for a community-marketed niche product where buyers reach the website before
the store.

### 4.5 Barrel-Maker Channel Economics

Two compliant referral models (both replace the old "wholesale code" model, which
carried policy risk):

**Model A — discount code (e.g. `KRIEGER25`, $25 off):**
- Buyer pays $44.99 − $25 = **$19.99**; Shopify fee $0.88 → CBB gross net **$19.11**.
- Less ~$5 referral commission to the partner → **CBB net $14.11**.

**Model B — full price + referral commission:**
- Buyer pays $44.99; Shopify fee $1.60 → CBB gross net **$43.39**.
- Less $12–$15 commission → **CBB net $28.39–$31.39**.

> **Honest framing:** per-transaction, neither referral model beats simply selling
> through the store at 15% ($38.24 net) — Model A nets $14.11, Model B nets
> $28–$31. The referral channel's value is **not** margin: it is (a) **zero
> customer-acquisition cost** (the barrel ships the lead), (b) **CBB owns the
> customer relationship** (email, future add-on upsell), and (c) **partner
> goodwill** with no upfront cost to the barrel maker. Choose Model B at the lower
> commission ($12) for the best balance, or Model A if the discount materially
> lifts conversion. The commission is entirely at CBB's discretion (standard
> affiliate rates run 10–30%).

---

## 5. Channel-by-Channel Application

### 5.1 Direct App Sales (One-Time, $29.99 intro / $44.99 primary)

The primary use case. The website purchase page offers both the store option and
"Buy on scope-dope.com." Community traffic (Sniper's Hide, NRL22 Facebook, match
word-of-mouth) arrives at the website pre-sold, with zero discovery cost —
capturing them direct adds **$5.14–$8.07/sale** (§4.3). **Implement post-launch**
(see §9) — the direct channel is deliberately *not* a v1.0 launch gate: the Apple
and Google legal picture resolves right at the launch window, and the priority at
launch is shipping the app cleanly through both stores. Stand the direct channel
up once the post-June-30 fee rules and the Apple SCOTUS outcome are confirmed.

### 5.2 Barrel-Maker Referral Channel

Covered in §4.5. Each partner gets a unique Shopify discount/referral code;
redemptions are tracked per partner; commission paid monthly on confirmed
redemptions. Fully compliant on both platforms; no upfront cost to the partner.

### 5.3 Discount / Promo Codes (General)

Shopify's native discount system handles percentage, fixed-amount, single-use,
multi-use, time-limited, and usage-capped codes (e.g. `MATCH20` for a sponsored
match). All managed in Shopify Admin; no Apple/Google involvement.

### 5.4 Optional Add-On Subscriptions (Future — Add-Ons Only)

**The base app is never a subscription.** *If* CBB ever offers an optional add-on
on a recurring basis (e.g. cloud sync), the external link can sell that add-on via
the website, with Shopify/Stripe Billing handling the recurring lifecycle. This is
**out of scope for v1.0** and applies only to add-ons, never the app itself. No
add-on subscription is committed; this paragraph exists only to note that the
external-link mechanics would extend to one if it is ever introduced.

---

## 6. Disclosure Requirements

### 6.1 Apple (iOS)

Even with US external links currently permitted without an entitlement, a neutral
disclosure before navigating the user out of the app is best practice and aligns
with Apple's guidelines. Use neutral language, e.g.:

> "You're about to visit an external website. Apple is not responsible for the
> privacy or security of purchases made on third-party sites."

If Apple's external-purchase **entitlement** path is used instead of the
guideline §3.1.1(a) link allowance, implement Apple's required interstitial
**exactly** per current documentation — deviating is grounds for rejection.
Monitor for changes after the Supreme Court decision (§8).

### 6.2 Google (Android)

No specific interstitial is mandated for external links. Best practice: make clear
the link navigates outside the app. No required language.

### 6.3 Prohibited Conduct (Both Platforms)

- **No denigrating the in-app option** ("avoid the App Store fee — buy direct").
- **No claim the platform overcharges**; wording must be neutral.
- **Do not remove the standard IAP path** — both options must remain available.

---

## 7. Infrastructure Required

### 7.1 Shopify Storefront (Existing Plan)

The Shopify Basic storefront already planned for consumables and merchandise
covers the external checkout. Add a ScopeDOPE digital-product SKU at **$44.99**
(and a $29.99 intro variant during the launch window). Shopify Payments handles
processing; Shopify handles discount codes, confirmation emails, and order
history.

**Digital delivery:** after purchase Shopify delivers a license token, via either
Shopify's native digital-download (a token file/link by email) or a post-purchase
webhook to the license endpoint (§7.2).

### 7.2 License Validation Endpoint (New — Azure Functions, Roadmap)

A lightweight endpoint validates direct-purchase tokens. **Target: Azure
Functions** (consumption plan), consistent with the existing Azure
infrastructure (SWA + cbb-infra Terraform). *This is a roadmap item — not yet
built; it must be stood up before the direct channel goes live.*

- **At purchase:** Shopify webhook → `issue` → record `{token, email, product,
  purchase_date, status}`.
- **At app launch:** app → `validate` → `{valid: true/false}` (one-time purchase
  has no expiry).
- **Offline:** app caches the last valid response with a **30-day grace period**,
  consistent with the offline-first architecture.

> **Hard requirement:** the endpoint must **not** be a hard dependency for app
> functionality. If unreachable, the app uses its cached status. The ballistic
> engine runs entirely on-device regardless. Cost-impact analysis and approval per
> the standing cost-approval directive **before** provisioning.

### 7.3 App Changes (Both Platforms)

- Add the "Buy on scope-dope.com" option to the purchase screen.
- iOS: implement the external-link path (entitlement only if the §3.1.1(a)
  allowance is insufficient).
- Implement the deep-link handler that receives the token.
- Token storage (encrypted SharedPreferences on Android, Keychain on iOS) +
  launch-time validation.
- 30-day offline grace for cached valid status.

The standard store IAP flow remains unchanged alongside the external option.

---

## 8. Risks and Caveats

| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Apple SCOTUS reverses / sets a coordination fee** | Medium (decision ~late June/early July 2026) | US external commission rises from 0% to a court-set rate | Build the link as an enhancement, not the primary path. Even a small Apple coordination fee leaves a net advantage vs 15% IAP. No revenue lost, only premium reduced. |
| **Google fee structure (June 30, 2026) lands differently than modeled** | Low-Medium | Shifts the in-app baseline and thus the direct advantage | Model uses verified settlement terms; re-verify at rollout. Direct still wins vs 25% standard; advantage narrows vs 15% Apps Experience. |
| **CBB does not qualify for / enroll in Apps Experience (15%)** | Medium | Android in-app fee is 25%, not 15% | Then the **direct channel advantage is larger** (+$8.07 vs +$5.14) — this risk *helps* the direct-channel case. Pursue Apps Experience enrollment regardless. |
| App Store rejection for non-compliant external link | Low | Delayed launch / forced removal | Neutral disclosure; review against current guidelines before submission. |
| Checkout abandonment vs one-tap store purchase | Low-Medium | Some direct sales lost | Offer Apple Pay / Google Pay in Shopify checkout to match store convenience. |
| License endpoint outage | Low | Direct buyers can't validate at launch | 30-day offline cache prevents impact in normal use. |

---

## 9. Recommended Approach

### Launch (v1.0, ~June 30 2026) — standard store IAP only

1. **Ship the app through both stores with the standard in-app purchase flow only.**
   The direct channel is **not** part of v1.0 — the Apple SCOTUS and Google
   June-30 outcomes resolve right at the launch window, and the launch priority is
   a clean store release. (See §8; this is a deliberate sequencing choice.)

### Shortly After Launch — stand up the direct channel (once the legal picture is confirmed)

Gate this phase on confirming the post-June-30 Google fees and the Apple SCOTUS
outcome (calendar checkpoint ~July 6, 2026):

2. **Add "Buy on scope-dope.com" to the iOS and Android purchase screen**, beside
   the store option. Neutral copy; no fee mention, no comparison language.
3. **iOS:** use the US §3.1.1(a) link allowance (no entitlement currently
   required); add the neutral disclosure. Confirm against the post-SCOTUS state.
4. **Shopify digital-product SKU at $44.99** (+ $29.99 intro variant if the intro
   window is still open). Token delivery via post-purchase email (simplest).
5. **Stand up the Azure Functions license endpoint** (roadmap) — `issue` +
   `validate`, with cost approval before provisioning. Must not be a hard
   dependency.
6. **App:** token storage + launch-time validation + 30-day offline cache.

### Post-Launch (~500 installs)

7. **Activate barrel-maker referral codes** (e.g. `KRIEGER`, `BRUX`) as
   partnerships establish; Shopify tracks redemptions; pay commission monthly.
   Default to Model B at ~$12 commission (§4.5).
8. **Add Apple Pay / Google Pay to Shopify checkout** to reduce mobile-browser
   friction.

### As Scale Warrants

9. **Evaluate Google Apps Experience enrollment** to drop Android in-app from ~25%
   to 15% (also improves the in-app baseline for buyers who don't go direct).
   **Note:** US rollout is ~Sept 30 2026 (not available at launch) and eligibility
   requires meeting Google's adaptive multi-form-factor quality benchmarks
   (tablet/foldable layouts) — weigh that engineering cost against the margin gain
   for a phone-first audience.
10. *If* an optional add-on (e.g. cloud sync) is ever introduced on a recurring
    basis, extend the external link to sell that **add-on** via Shopify/Stripe
    Billing — **add-ons only; never the app** (§5.4).

---

*Confidential — Cold Bore Ballistics LLC — Do not distribute without NDA*

---

## Document Control

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| **Document owner** | `jschwefel@coldboreballisticsllc.com` |
| **Classification** | Confidential (03_-_Confidential/) |
| **Location** | `OneDrive/CBB_Corporate/03_-_Confidential/Financial_Records/SCOPEDOPE_EXTERNAL_PURCHASE_STRATEGY.md` |
| **Cross-references** | `SCOPEDOPE_PRICE_POINT_ANALYSIS.md`; `SCOPEDOPE_REVENUE_PROJECTION.md` |
| **Created** | 2026-06-05 |
| **Last updated** | 2026-06-09 |
| **Next full review due** | 2027-06-05 |

---

## Revision Control Block

| Rev | Date | Changed By | Reviewed By | Approved By | Summary |
|-----|------|------------|-------------|-------------|---------|
| 0.9 | 2026-06-05 | jschwefel | — | — | Initial release |
| DRAFT | 2026-06-09 | Claude Code | — | — | Complete rewrite. Corrected store fees (Apple 15% in-app / 0% external; Google 15–25% in-app, 20% link-out) and payment processing (Shopify Payments 2.9%+$0.30, no surcharge). Removed fabricated lifetime SKU and app-subscription model. Replaced Cloudflare with Azure Functions; removed feedback-service reference. Re-derived all per-transaction and scale economics; direct advantage now $5.14–$8.07/sale band. Flagged Apple SCOTUS + Google June-30 rollout as provisional. Sequencing: direct channel moved to **post-launch** (v1.0 ships store-IAP-only; direct channel gated on confirming the post-June-30 legal picture). Added Apps Experience launch-timing caveat (15% tier US rollout ~Sept 30 2026, not available at launch; requires adaptive multi-form-factor work). |
