Apple Defends App Store Changes in the Netherlands as Fines Reach €30 Million

[pasamio]

Well it’s not a question of complicated but not defendable to force it. If apps can load different languages depending on location and system settings without the need for a separate app, then it’s hard to justify this requirement as a mandate compared to developers who chose to do so.

If I download tinder in Sweden, travel to USA I can use the same app, if I then travel to the Netherlands, I suddenly need a separate app instead of localization providing the extra features if I have a Dutch credit card.

And apple wants to force apps to use only one payment system. One app with apple IAP and separate app with 3d party option.

Apple implement new artificial limitations they can’t justify outside it makes it harder to implement for no defendable explanation

I've seen a number of apps where the companies have shipped different apps for different countries even in the same app store. The OP also mentions that the companies do some of this themselves as well. I've also seen companies release entirely brand new apps and retire their old one entirely.

I guess I don't get it, they release an app for the relevant app store that has the extra capability that app store jurisdiction provides. I'm actually not sure how they'd be able to enforce it otherwise because as you point out you could download the app and travel to a different country with a different set of laws that have a different compliance regime, I guess you'd have to have a different app to enable that functionality.

Sir, you are a genius! You've just proven Apple's case!

 

[BaldiMac]

Since the thread has worked itself back around to the Netherlands case, here is some information that the Mozilla Foundation has uncovered about the Match Group who initiated this case.

https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/blog/new-research-tinders-opaque-unfair-pricing-algorithm-can-charge-users-up-to-five-times-more-for-same-service/

Tinder pricing scandal: Dutch regulator should also investigate Apple antitrust foe Match Group if 'C' in 'ACM' truly stands for Dutch 'Consumers', not American 'Companies'

Who is hurting consumers more: a dating-app maker that clandestinely charges some of its users up to five times more for the same service...

www.fosspatents.com

Tinder Plus users around the world must engage with an opaque and unfair personalized pricing algorithm, according to new research by Mozilla and Consumers International.

The research — which spanned five continents — reveals that within a single country, consumers can be quoted up to 31 unique price points for a Tinder Plus subscription. Further, some people are charged up to five times more for the exact same service: In the Netherlands, prices ranged from $4.45 to $25.95. In the U.S., they ranged from $4.99 to $26.99.

Consumers International and Mozilla also determined that Tinder’s personalized pricing algorithm can charge older users more money. On average across the six countries investigated, 30-49 year-olds were charged 65.3% more than 18-29 year-olds. This is occurring even after Tinder faced a $24 million lawsuit for unfair pricing based on age in California.


These are the kind of pricing strategies that the "Coalition for App Fairness" wants to enable through these lawsuits and lobbying. Hopefully, this gives pause to those of you arguing that Apple's position is anti-consumer.

 

[I7guy]

[…]These are the kind of pricing strategies that the "Coalition for App Fairness" wants to enable through these lawsuits and lobbying. Hopefully, this gives pause to those of you arguing that Apple's position is anti-consumer.

I don’t think any new information will change anyones mind. That’s not the way the internet works. But your point is well taken, things aren’t always as they seem.

 

[goobot]

Haven’t seen a news article on this lately, wonder what happened

 

[snipper]

Wait... I thought classifieds were a big revenue stream for newspapers.

And then online services like Craigslist took away their business...

How Craigslist killed the newspapers’ golden goose - MinnPost

Sites like Craigslist delivered a blow to newspaper classified advertising that the industry probably will never recover from.

www.minnpost.com

How newspapers could have stopped Craigslist

Earlier this month, the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism announced that Craig Newmark, he of Craigslist fame, had donated $20 million to…

medium.com

That's what I always heard.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What I mean is: Free / cheap sites for classifieds took away that business for newspapers 20 years ago. So now, that is not / no longer where the money is for newspapers.