Apple Must Let Dating Apps Offer Alternative Payment Methods in App Store, Dutch Regulator Says

[chucker23n1]

It’s funny how people who rail about “monopolies” seem to be fine with government monopoly power.

I guess you have interesting taste in humor.

I can vote for government. I cannot vote for corporations.

But, of course, governments merely start wars, imprison people, torture people, cause famines, steal private property. They aren’t really evil, like corporations who produce products and services that make people’s lives better.

OK, Ayn Rand over here.

 

[Xiao_Xi]

Could Apple escape from the fine by pulling out from The Netherlands? I doubt that you can cancel a debt in a country by moving to another country. The Dutch can, after all, send the bills to Cupertino.

Would Apple not keep violing the competition law if it forces devs to pay for other exclusive Apple services like hosting? Unless devs have alternatives, judges could apply the same logic to the new fee.

If the ruling found out that Apple's practices violate the EU competition law, others countries in the EU can take similar measures very quickly. Will Apple pull out from the EU?

 

[Romain_H]

I guess you have interesting taste in humor.

I can vote for government. I cannot vote for corporations.

OK, Ayn Rand over here.

Plus the Dutch government isn‘t involved. Its a court‘s decision. Separation of powers is working in The Netherlands

 

[one more]

Why should it only apply to the dating apps?

 

[Sophisticatednut]

I might go as far as to say, and I have been downvoted for a similar analogy, that forcing anyone to do anything (and in regards of work and how to work) especially when it’s working mostly fine has a name, and it’s worse than just the usual socialism v communism v capitalism.

You’re just flat out wrong, simply because companies are free to leave if they don’t like the regulations and laws.

A company has the right to offer or deny services, some business won’t accept kids or adults or pets or not do a specific job in a way they don’t usually do it (i.e at a specific price tag or set of rules or fees).
We are talking here that many governments are literally controlling the price, store front, backend, and more of Apple’s business… instead of letting the market decide.
Is the 30% fee too much? Developers would probably not develop for iOS and only keep it android and web browsers experience or the users wouldn’t be ok with it and not sign up there… sounds to me that it was sound business for everybody involved.

You must understand the government have the exact same rights to tell apple to get out if they don’t follow the laws of the land. This is not a free market, but a regulated one

Also, the hypocrisy, don’t know about the Dutch but wouldn’t be surprised if it is more universal than not:
I’m currently in the US for vacations and Rogers (Canadian telecom) is charging me $10 a day for roaming. Many of the big telecoms there happen to charge $10 a day. This is highway robbery yet the freaking actual-socialist Canadian government got to dance with them instead of the people.
What did I do after the few surprise charges? Got a t-mobile eSIM for 30 days text-voice-data plan for $25 (or the equivalent of the price price 2.5 days of roaming).

Nope, even with the Dutch or any country in EU we have free roaming with calls, texts and data at perhaps 10Gb with limited speed after it’s used up

“But hey, let’s start coming up with fees if decades old of working business don’t adapt to just freshly made rule changes quick enough”

 

[ericwn]

It’s funny how people who rail about “monopolies” seem to be fine with government monopoly power.

But, of course, governments merely start wars, imprison people, torture people, cause famines, steal private property. They aren’t really evil, like corporations who produce products and services that make people’s lives better.

You have one awesome understanding of monopoly, says my wife who by your logic is the female monopoly power in the marriage. MR comedy Gold. Can’t make this up myself.

 

[I7guy]

You might want to look up intellectual property and socialism.

Hence the comment.

 

[H2SO4]

Well, personally, I always think on a date the dude should pay. But I don’t know if this counts as an alternate method?

What about equality?

 

[I7guy]

you think a lot of devs are making millions??

Yes.

 

[ericwn]

The report a problem and get your money back function… Apple will handle that for me. Who will guarantee that outside the AppStore?

Neither path is a guarantee to get a refund. Have you never purchased anything online other than an app in the app store? Saying it’s all scams is just revealing lack of knowledge.

 

[ericwn]

It’s simply shocking to see so many, so voraciously, lining up to defend a 2 trillion dollar company

This really has turned into a massive cult

The issue is hardly with the size of their bank account it’s more the failure to see that other countries may have different rules and regulations. That’s more on the vocal minority here who always bashes any criticism towards apple than an actual phenomenon in the real world.

 

[ericwn]

Plus the Dutch government isn‘t involved. Its a court‘s decision. Separation of powers is working in The Netherlands

All true and valid but including that would have required thinking before typing.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

Yes.

Well that’s objectively false. 98% makes less than 1 million

Apple’s App Store revenue share from developers earning under $1 million is just 2%

This comes following Apple’s announcement that developers earning less than $1 million annually would be entitled to 85% of the revenue share.

www.thehindu.com

 

[I7guy]

It’s simply shocking to see so many, so voraciously, lining up to defend a 2 trillion dollar company

This really has turned into a massive cult

The cult seems to be the critics, not those who support a legitimate business model.

 

[I7guy]

Well that’s objectively false. 98% makes less than 1 million

Apple’s App Store revenue share from developers earning under $1 million is just 2%

This comes following Apple’s announcement that developers earning less than $1 million annually would be entitled to 85% of the revenue share.

www.thehindu.com

We’ll no. “A lot” wasn’t defined. “A lot” could be 10.

 

[I7guy]

You’re just flat out wrong, simply because companies are free to leave if they don’t like the regulations and laws.
[…]

Or shut down the Dutch App Store.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

What about equality?

You’re right.
What about the droid attack on the Wookiees?

 

[God of Biscuits]

Well, personally, I always think on a date the dude should pay. But I don’t know if this counts as an alternate method?

Sexism aside, do dating app companies have a powerful lobby in NL government agencies?

 

[God of Biscuits]

It never fails to amuse me when insignificant countries think they have the clout to threaten someone.

Apple’s revenue from the Netherlands is less than a rounding error.

I say it’s time some of these tiny places start being reminded of their place.

*NO* corporation should be "more significant" than a country. The idea is obscene.

That said, you think the Netherlands is an insignificant country? oh geez.

 

[God of Biscuits]

I don’t believe any country or any people are insignificant. However, I agree that no country should make threats to get another country or company to change its policy.

You're kidding, right? Wealthy people and corporations should have the right to behave as they choose, regardless of a country's laws and regulations? The Netherlands isn't threatening here, it's issuing a fine for failing to comply with a regulation, and providing notice in advance.

 

[gsurf123]

apple should just lower the cut to 15% for every developer. 30 is too high.

And you are basing this on what? We’re this retail you would be lucky to get 50%.

 

[God of Biscuits]

Just remove all dating apps from the Store in the Netherlands. Problem solved.

*facepalm*

 

[gsurf123]

The report a problem and get your money back function… Apple will handle that for me. Who will guarantee that outside the AppStore?

We all know that no one will. If outside the store is the only way to pay then I won’t be using that app.

 

[God of Biscuits]

I say pull out of the Netherlands or do not sell the dating apps in the Netherlands. Throw up a nice disclaimer alerting the users that they cannot use those Apps because of their government. Apple has obligation to anyone and can run their store as they see fit.

I see these developer's as greedy. They were happy to pay the $99 in order to publish an App and were happy with Apple's skim for hosting the app and payment system for them until they decided they wanted all of the money.

Another alternative is charging per download/update for those not using the App Store for payments. If you want to use a toll road you have to pay. Welcome to world of wanting something for nothing.

Never mind that this is a colossal Bad Move, but it shows that a company is acting against its own bottom line in the interest of maintaining a tight grip. Hello market abuse.

The entire EU would immediately land on Apple and start abuse proceedings, the stock would plummet, bad will would happen in most countries and it might take years to recover, if ever.

Do you know anything about the Netherlands, like, at all?

 

[ninecows]

Neither path is a guarantee to get a refund. Have you never purchased anything online other than an app in the app store? Saying it’s all scams is just revealing lack of knowledge.

Do you also speak to strangers like that in real life? Saying that they have lack of knowledge? Didn’t your mom teach you to be polite to strangers?
Where did I say everything is a scam?

I’m just saying that the risk of a scam is bigger outside AppStore. Not saying Tinder would scam people, but other more “creative” developers might.

I never had issues getting money back from the AppStore. Here Apple take responsibility.

If you pay with PayPal outside AppStore I guess your chances for a refund is just as good.

If you pay directly with credit card or whatever your chances will decrease.