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Apple Fined Another 5 Million Euros by Dutch Competition Regulator Over Dating App Payment Requirements

So every little crap hole country around the world can just randomly fine US companies whatever they want whenever they want and get away with it?

I cant imagine Apple is making that much money off the app store in the netherlands. Especially off apps like dating sites. I wish they would just cut off all access to the app store for all apps that require purchases and make sure all customers know it is their mafia like government that is the cause.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
And let's not forget that "sideload" is just a scary sounding rebranding of "installing software"

It's not some nefarious, dangerous, illicit or "hacky" thing to be doing.

The "load" is the installing part, and the "side" just means "alongside the iOS App distribution monopoly of Apple"
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Tell that to all the people who have bricked android phones by loading third party apps.

Go buy an android phone if you dont like the rules YOU signed up for when YOU bought an iphone. You knew it going in and now you want to complain.
 
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Apple should be able to monetize their platform, but the App Store rules are overly complex where they try to wind around Apple's business interests. It is hard to tell if they are rent seeking in some situations, if they are competing unfairly in services that aren't included with the operating system, or if they are artificially limiting progressive web apps to force them on the native store. If Apple doesn't give in a little they are going to be forced to give in a lot. I'd rather not see them lose control of the platform. Hopefully it isn't too late already.

I'm not an advocate of side-loading, but it would be great to see an option for more technical users to side-load if they enable a personal developer mode and (possibly) compile from source. That would also solve the problem with running GPL software on iOS. Basically a free developer account without distribution privledges. Maybe they already have that with the new Playgrounds app projects, but I haven't looked in to it.
 
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4nNtt said:
Apple should be able to monetize their platform, but the App Store rules are overly complex where they try to wind around Apple's business interests. It is hard to tell if they are rent seeking in some situations, if they are competing unfairly in services that aren't included with the operating system, or if they are artificially limiting progressive web apps to force them on the native store. If Apple doesn't give in a little they are going to be forced to give in a lot. I'd rather not see them lose control of the platform. Hopefully it isn't too late already.
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Smart money would say they are doing some degree of all of those things

There's a reason Apple are very opaque about what goes where from the 30% cut.
You peel back this onion and it almost certainly would highlight some major gouging
 
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CaptainV said:
Thanks Apple for this weekly allowance :)

Also, curious what a lot of the MacRumors members will say when the US will enforce rules like this / App Store changes. Will they also say “Apple should just walk away from all this. Apple doesn’t need them.” 😅
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No, we will complain that our government should be acting like gangsters and are overreaching telling a company how to run their business. I dont agree with all regulations. But everyone voluntarily bought an iphone or developed an app and saught to have it on the app store. No one was forced to do it. And now they want to complain after the fact for a larger piece of the pie.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
They are called jurisdictions and they have laws -- laws that multinational corporations must abide in order to operate in those jurisdictions
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And it seems like this would be walking away from the EU at some point, not just the Netherlands. I am assuming a member state of thecould raise issues of habitual noncompliance.
 
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t76turbo said:
So every little crap hole country around the world can just randomly fine US companies whatever they want whenever they want and get away with it?
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Yes - which is why it is so expensive for a company to operate in so many different countries. Apple, and any other company needs to have employees/lawyers who work around the clock understanding the laws and changes to the laws, and if they impact their company.

And a fine carries no backbone. I can fine you $10,000 for calling yourself 'turbo'. But would you ever pay? No. I would have to go to court and prove that my fine has merit and get a court-ordered judgement against you for $10,000. And still, you might not pay. I might go down the path to get a Lein on something you own, or dock your paychecks. You could quit your job or sell all your stuff to a friend before my judgement comes through - a company might just leave the country in question, or offer something else in trade, like 'We'll make iPhones $50 cheaper in your country!'.

You'll have to wait years to see what actually comes of it, and if any fines are ever paid.
 
4nNtt said:
Apple should be able to monetize their platform, but the App Store rules are overly complex where they try to wind around Apple's business interests. It is hard to tell if they are rent seeking in some situations, if they are competing unfairly in services that aren't included with the operating system, or if they are artificially limiting progressive web apps to force them on the native store. If Apple doesn't give in a little they are going to be forced to give in a lot. I'd rather not see them lose control of the platform. Hopefully it isn't too late already.

I'm not an advocate of side-loading, but it would be great to see an option for more technical users to side-load if they enable a personal developer mode and (possibly) compile from source. That would also solve the problem with running GPL software on iOS. Basically a free developer account without distribution privledges. Maybe they already have that with the new Playgrounds app projects, but I haven't looked in to it.
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That already exists. Developer accounts are free. And you can deploy to your own devices. The $99 program includes developer certifications to distribute on the App Store (among a few other things).
 
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t76turbo said:
So every little crap hole country around the world can just randomly fine US companies whatever they want whenever they want and get away with it?

I cant imagine Apple is making that much money off the app store in the netherlands. Especially off apps like dating sites. I wish they would just cut off all access to the app store for all apps that require purchases and make sure all customers know it is their mafia like government that is the cause.
Click to expand...

The degree of embarrassment you Apple fanboys go through in these forums just to justify Apple is insane.
 
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t76turbo said:
So every little crap hole country around the world can just randomly fine US companies whatever they want whenever they want and get away with it?

I cant imagine Apple is making that much money off the app store in the netherlands. Especially off apps like dating sites. I wish they would just cut off all access to the app store for all apps that require purchases and make sure all customers know it is their mafia like government that is the cause.
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Well, they are free to leave that country, nobody is forcing them to do business outside the U.S.

Arreviderci, arrogant fruit company. 😘
 
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b4rtw said:
So, Apple proclaims that services like iDeal, Paypal, Mastercard or Visa are not safe?
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Correct. Even the payment processors that apple uses they claim is not safe and will expose users data which is in essence saying apple exposes users data and is not safe its self. LOL.....

Its all about control because eventually apple wont know how much money is being spent and its a lucrative deal.

The issue is even if apple wanted to charge per download they could do it but then there's only so much apple can do because it would end up being hit with anti competitive behaviors if it charged per download what they get from in app purchases that have nothing to do with apple.

LoL iphone growth has slowed and apples only growth segment has been services. Theres a cap on how many customers you can retain and capture and thats the reason they stopped announcing how mnay iphones they sold and switched to revenue only.


For apple if they can not keep increasing revenue it will be an issue for their bottom line despite making what 122bill profit or whatever the hell it was last quarter.
 
Stratus Fear said:
Some of you guys really need to look into what other digital distribution platforms charge (the majority are at or around 30%) and even look at what traditional retail charges for shelf space.
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I have.

Epic Games and Microsoft both only collect 12% from the sale of a game. That's far far lower than 30% or even the 27% commission Apple thinks it deserves for allowing someone else to handle the payment.

Apple provided additional details for dating apps wishing to offer alternative payment systems in the Netherlands last week, including that it will charge a 27% commission on transactions made in dating apps that use alternative payment systems.
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As for traditional retail such as a brick-and-mortar grocery store, it works differently; They use slotting fees. These are one time fees as opposed to Apple's percentage cut and varies depending on what is negotiated based on the amount of shelf space, location on the shelf (premium eye-level real estate or bottom shelf), the number of grocery stores the product will appear in, if it's regional or national stores, etc.

But you can't really compare digital space to physical space since there's no space limitation when it comes to displaying a digital product unlike with a physical one.
 
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ACHD said:
LoL iphone growth has slowed and apples only growth segment has been services. Theres a cap on how many customers you can retain and capture and thats the reason they stopped announcing how mnay iphones they sold and switched to revenue only.
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Yup..

One of many reasons Apple try to upsell you to the Apple credit card when…

- setting up Apple Pay in iOS setup (are you *sure* you don’t want Apple Card?)
- safari auto fill
- apple account payment methods
- a freakin’ notification reminding you in case you forgot
 
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Juraj22 said:
It is not about payment processors. Payments are safe.

Imagine:
App will sell you "full license" to something. However, It will not deliver any features at all. You paid using external payment system. Now what?
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Charge back with cc, it's easier than you think. Just try to think outside the box Apple try to keep you all in.
 
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t76turbo said:
Tell that to all the people who have bricked android phones by loading third party apps.
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I have a Samsung smartphone with a few third party apps (every app is a third party app if it's not made by Google or Samsung). It's mainly used to keep in touch with overseas relatives through WhatsApp. I must be doing something wrong because the phone works just fine.
 
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sw1tcher said:
I have a Samsung smartphone with a few third party apps (every app is a third party app if it's not made by Google or Samsung). It's mainly used to keep in touch with overseas relatives through WhatsApp. I must be doing something wrong because the phone works just fine.
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It hasn’t exploded from installing software not from MegaCorpAuthorizedStore?
 
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