Apple Reinstates Epic Games EU Developer Account, Paving the Way for Alternative App Store

[10anta]

As a European citizen and Apple user I have never demanded alternative app stores and have been content to use the Apple one to get apps for a device they sold me knowingly and continue to control.

Every Apple buyer worldwide has chosen Apple, their device, iOS, and approach over the more open Android operating system.

Every current Apple owner can sell their device and replace it with the more open Android system at any time.

I don’t see how or why this is apparently a legislative issue. But, like politicians the world over, I do expect the EU to meddle and demand money for their own egos and pockets even where not at all justified.

Perhaps we should have the right to live without dumb political restrictions and laws.

 

[Hails09]

I get the impression that Epic is fighting on Apple on this because they can also afford to completely lose the iOS market should they lose so they can see how far they can take this. I suspect if this works out well for Epic, they're gonna go after MSFT, Sony and the rest, where their real revenue streams are.

Epic won’t go after Xbox,PlayStation & Nintendo because they want the mobile games money

 

[Abazigal]

Well isn’t it Apples problem that they are demanding to use their „infrastructure“? Maybe I don’t even want to use it (as a developer) but they force me to use their „infrastructure“

The implication here is that someone is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to develop an app for iOS.

 

[Hails09]

As a European citizen and Apple user I have never demanded alternative app stores and have been content to use the Apple one to get apps for a device they sold me knowingly and continue to control.

Every Apple buyer worldwide has chosen Apple, their device, iOS, and approach over the more open Android operating system.

Every current Apple owner can sell their device and replace it with the more open Android system at any time.

I don’t see how or why this is apparently a legislative issue. But, like politicians the world over, I do expect the EU to meddle and demand money for their own egos and pockets even where not at all justified.

Perhaps we should have the right to live without dumb political restrictions and laws.

Not all people buy an iPhone because of the wall garden approach.

 

[10anta]

The purpose of an alternative store is so you don't have to go to Apple (or in your example Target) and get their approval to sell your products. You can set up your own shop away from Apple (or Target in your case) by using your own resources and not Apple's (or Target's in your case).

The way this so-called alternative app store works now is like having to ask Target for permission to start your own mom & pop business selling items that would compete with Target. And if you have anything negative to say about Target, Target can terminate your business license whenever they feel like it.

And to enable that, every user, whether they want it or not, is forced to have a less secure and more compromised operating system.

 

[10anta]

Not all people buy an iPhone because of the wall garden approach.

And why must Apple be compelled to serve people who aren’t their customers?

 

[Hails09]

And to enable that, every user, whether they want it or not, is forced to have a less secure and more compromised operating system.

Just don’t download load the alternative App Store then
Problem solved for YOU

 

[Hails09]

And why must Apple be compelled to serve people who aren’t their customers?

Because they are breaking the rules

 

[JapanApple]

There’s so many users using Fortnite on the Apple devices. This makes sense Apple knew what was going on.

 

[10anta]

Just don’t download load the alternative App Store then
Problem solved for YOU

I want reassurances that iPhones will remain secure by default with the App Store the only permitted app distributor and notoriser.

 

[Sarafay]

As a European citizen and Apple user I have never demanded alternative app stores and have been content to use the Apple one to get apps for a device they sold me knowingly and continue to control.

Every Apple buyer worldwide has chosen Apple, their device, iOS, and approach over the more open Android operating system.

Every current Apple owner can sell their device and replace it with the more open Android system at any time.

I don’t see how or why this is apparently a legislative issue. But, like politicians the world over, I do expect the EU to meddle and demand money for their own egos and pockets even where not at all justified.

Perhaps we should have the right to live without dumb political restrictions and laws.

And for me it’s different as EU citizen. I wanted to make my scooter faster per app. That app was not allowed by Apple. Bot of course by Android. That is Apple censorship.

 

[AppliedMicro]

I cannot comprehend why on earth someone who wants their device their way buys Apple when there are alternatives that they could use there hard earned money on.

It is like going into a car showroom to buy a people carrier as you need to do the school run with 5 kids and then buy a two seat sports car and then complain that cannot fit all the kids in. To me that is what Camp Two are doing.

👉 And I can’t comprehend why - with the number and variety of third-party software available for modern computing platforms and the role they play in one’s life - one supports that a single company act as a Big Brother and control every aspect and every transaction in one’s digital life.

There’s more than two types of cars and more than two manufacturers of cars (I’m not comparing cars to hardware devices here - it’s about the software).

And a car isn a platform “base” product that serves as the basis for dozens of third-party apps to install own. Including my bank’s.

iOS integrates better with my Mac and even allows for cross-platform purchases with my Mac.
And I don’t like being signed into a Google account - except for the few of their services I deliberately choose to use.

I want reassurances that iPhones will remain secure by default with the App Store the only permitted app distributor and notoriser.

You can assure that by not using third-party stores - so the App Store will remain the only permitted app distributor for you.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Yup epic is digging themselves in a hole and the next time they breach the contract or agreement no one is going to save them.

Don’t hold your breath. Once consumers have invested in Epic’s apps and Apple suddenly revokes their certificates and deprives them of access to the apps they invested in, public outcry and regulators may again force them to continue/reinstate service.

No one needs a smartphone to survive in modern times.

No one needs TV, the internet or electricity either (well, except the people one life support machines).

Yet these services have all been classified and regulated as essential in modern society. Even American governments (example) are saying that.

Whereas your definition of essential services more aligns with a hardcore caveman’s: it’s all (and only) about “survival”.

Don’t make an iPhone as indispensable as air food or water. It ain’t so.

It’s somewhere “in between” that and mere lifestyle products - and so does the regulation treat it.

 

[Sarafay]

USA: Land of the free?

 

[AppliedMicro]

USA: Land of the free?

More the land of the winners that take it all.

 

[vakarpochui]

What companies are entitled to or not is, in the end, defined by laws, at least outside of the U.S. 🤷🏻‍♂️

EU is a bunch of hypocrites. I hope Denmark will exit this joke.

 

[vakarpochui]

Because they are breaking the rules

What rules? Artificially Made up competition rules?

 

[AppliedMicro]

I hope Denmark will exit this joke.

But what would we do without Margrethe Vestager?

 

[AppliedMicro]

Artificially Made up competition rules

Artificially made up rules that require gatekeepers to play fair and allow competition.

 

[vakarpochui]

But what would we do without Margrethe Vestager?

Get some actual work done?

 

[vakarpochui]

Artificially made up rules that require gatekeepers to play fair and allow competition.

I don’t think it looks fair when you’ve been investing time and money for almost 2 decades. I’m not saying Apple did not have and alternative strategies. They certainly did have.

 

[AppliedMicro]

I don’t think it looks fair when you’ve been investing time and money for almost 2 decades

Apple have been well-compensated for their investment. It “only” made them the world’s most valuable company.

I don’t it’s fair that their early mover advantage in developing smartphones and their operating systems allow them to control distribution of apps and unilaterally set anticompetitive rules and commission rates forever.

 

[treacher]

I want reassurances that iPhones will remain secure by default

Don't worry; Apple's marketing department will continue using their delightfully palatable language to make you feel good about buying their products.

Still iPhone. Still secure.

 

[vakarpochui]

Apple have been well-compensated for their investment. It “only” made them the world’s most valuable company.

I don’t it’s fair that their early mover advantage in developing smartphones and their operating systems allow them to control distribution of apps and unilaterally set anticompetitive rules and commission rates forever.

I agree partially, but still it’s punishment for being successful 🤷‍♂️. I’d rather have market regulate itself.

 

[Onexy]

It is incredibly confusing for normal users. Not the sort of people who post here, but that 100% would result in a confused phone call "which one do I pick" from multiple of my family members.

Like, once. I don't think it can be helped that some people don't even know what a "browser" is when they're using it.