Apple's In-App Purchase Rules Are Anti-Competitive, Rules Dutch Antitrust Watchdog

[vasilenko93]

What if they charged App Developers $100 USD per year for each app (to be in their App Store) ?

I heard that one floated multiple times when I was up in Silicon Valley earlier this month.

It has a side-benefit of forcing App Developers to prioritize their apps, which should theoretically greatly reduce the number of crap apps in the App Store !

Apple won't like this. Most of Apple's profit comes from in-app purchases of **** games where a level takes 1 minute and an ad shows for 30 seconds after and you can buy 1000 gems for $3 but for $5 you get 4500 gems (most popular!).

The sate of AppStore games is terrible. Apple didn't allow Xbox Cloud too, so all you get is games above.

 

[turbineseaplane]

And just wait until anyone can put any ol' crap on a website and sell it!

Not a problem on the Mac - or anywhere else.

Buy and install from anywhere you like.

This is my phone - not Apples

These are simply little computers.
There is nothing special about them other than "smaller screens"

 

[4jasontv]

Innovating is exactly what would be healthy for Apple and their consumers, rather than trying to lock competitors out to maintain their revenue stream. If Apple's innovation means that their services truly are a cut above everyone else's, then people will be willing to pay for them, even if it costs a little more. Instead, Apple wants to take the easy route, which is only afforded to them because they control (or at least try to control) absolutely everything.

They are a cut above because they restrict it.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Not a problem on the Mac - or anywhere else.

Buy and install from anywhere you like.

This is my phone - not Apples

These are simply little computers. There is nothing special about them other than "smaller screens"

That's true.

I wonder if Apple will be regulated to allow the iPhone to install software exactly like the Mac does now?

It does seem weird that an iPhone is so restricted... but a Macintosh can download and install anything from anywhere.

Someone should look into this!

 

[Sophisticatednut]

What? No. Developers need the noose tightened, not more freedom to come up with new ways to charge people to keep an app. Every time they are given a tool to help them serve their customers they turn it into another way to fleece people out of more money.

Oh I completely agree, apple should have their noose tightens so they stop misusing their freedom to skim customers of more money.

IAP, subscriptions, and what, now we want to give them control over how the App is distributed? Give me a break.

I completely agree. Apple should not have complete control. I’m glad we agree apples control should be loosened so customers have more ipt

Unless we don’t care about users at all… in which case why not destroy the platform they have built by giving the control over to the prospectors looking for increased, short-sighted returns for the lowest investment.

well if you care about apple we shouldn’t touch the platform. Apple should really be stopped from looking for shortsighted return for the lowest investment

"Tinder owner Match Group said that Apple's in-app purchase were preventing it from directly communicating with customers about payments."

As soon as the developer is able to 'communicate directly about payments' they will also communicate with marketing.

well why not just give me the option to click in a button saying: I want marketing info and share my contact info.
just leave it empty by default

 

[4jasontv]

Oh I completely agree, apple should have their noose tightens so they stop misusing their freedom to skim customers of more money.


I completely agree. Apple should not have complete control. I’m glad we agree apples control should be loosened so customers have more ipt

well if you care about apple we shouldn’t touch the platform. Apple should really be stopped from looking for shortsighted return for the lowest investment


well why not just give me the option to click in a button saying: I want marketing info and share my contact info.
just leave it empty by default

We can't trust developers and so we have to assume they will commit fraud and abuse their power. If we start with those assumptions it makes regulation of them easier to accept. Apple isn't perfect, but it's better than not restricting developers.

 

[vipergts2207]

They are a cut above because they restrict it.

You're going to have to explain how you come to that conclusion. iCloud is somehow better because they don't allow other cloud providers to have the same functionality in the OS as iCloud?

 

[Shirasaki]

Time to ban all these countries that are trying to force apple to change. 🤦‍♂️

Yes and while we are at it (surrender all major markets to the Chinese) we make Apple great again.

Sure, just retreat to US market (maybe Australia as well just because) since those two markets will feed apple enough money to keep the company afloat while still producing good devices. I’m confident this will work out just fine if Tim is ok losing the global market in a year or two.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

There are a lot of people saying "I already give Apple $99 a year... why do they want more money?"

So I have a suggestion:

The $99 yearly fee should actually be called "Application Fee" to become a developer.

And the per-sale commission should be called the "Developer Fee" or "Commission Fee"

That would make it simpler to understand.

Or how about apple actually have a bigger developer fee to cover exactly all expenses and the. Just a few percent profit on transactions.

 

[Shirasaki]

At some point you can expect the cost of developer tools to go up significantly. Developers will also have to pay license fees for the programming interfaces. Possibly even users having to pay for OS upgrades. Operating a business is not free, so the revenue will have to come from somewhere.

We'll also have forced third party app stores that are full of scam apps. And then in a few years will have the legally mandated hardware designs that require old-outdated, but unifyingly common, interfaces and components.

Then everything will be better... Yes, much, much better... At least, for everyone that matters...

Apple just price in app model cheaper than hosting payment options on their own and this legislation will have zero impact. Waiting for more investigations.
Seriously, aside from apple, who can stop apple nowadays? Anyone?

 

[4jasontv]

Or how about apple actually have a bigger developer fee to cover exactly all expenses and the. Just a few percent profit on transactions.

But a developer fee would net Apple less money than a per-sale transaction. Since Apple is responsible for a majority of the app experience they do deserve a good percentage of the app's revenue.

 

[MauiPa]

I’d love this to apply to all online stores. Like AirBnb they both market someone else’s product so why should they get a pass? Shouldn’t you be able to make payment on another system after finding your romm? Pretty much the same thing. Coalition for online store fairness!

 

[4jasontv]

I’d love this to apply to all online stores. Like AirBnb they both market someone else’s product so why should they get a pass? Shouldn’t you be able to make payment on another system after finding your romm? Pretty much the same thing. Coalition for online store fairness!

No one is disagreeing with you.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

But a developer fee would net Apple less money than a per-sale transaction. Since Apple is responsible for a majority of the app experience they do deserve a good percentage of the app's revenue.

And why is it me as a customers problem that apple makes less money? The App Store experience is really bad and broken. So I don’t understand why I am forced to pay 30% of my purchase to apple sounds more fair if I can choose to someone else more money for a superior service.

 

[Shirasaki]

That's strange. I have no trouble using it on any platform with a browser.

Tell me how to use Apple Pay on Firefox on my Windows PC to pay Spotify.

So when 1000's of people start getting scammed out of money, because they thought the payment processing site they went to, "looks" legit, who will reimburse their money? The governments that enforced these laws? or will it just kind of be Wild West, and well you should have known better, lessoned learned?

Yep. Apple is no longer responsible, and those users are on their own. Ezpz. Let them deal with banks which ultimately manages their money. Every scam is a lesson learned, with or without apple. Heck, scam existed centuries before apple was even born.

 

[4jasontv]

And why is it me as a customers problem that apple makes less money? The App Store experience is really bad and broken. So I don’t understand why I am forced to pay 30% of my purchase to apple sounds more fair if I can choose to someone else more money for a superior service.

I am having a hard time understanding you, so I apologize in advance if I misunderstood. You think that the experience is bad so you think you should pay Apple less? Ok, you do that by buying less software from them. Since Apple is responsible for much of the app's experience they deserve a percentage of the App sales. You show Apple that you don't like the app by not paying for it. You don't have a right to their software unless you pay for it, but by cutting your spending you send a clear message to Apple to develop better tools for their developers.

 

[masterhiggins]

How many world-class tech companies are based out of the Netherlands?

 

[Shirasaki]

It's a good point.

I think maybe the HVAC company should take a cut also as their equipment is providing heat to the room where I am making the online purchase. Same for the utility company...

Do any rich people around me own the rights to "the air" also?
Maybe they need a cut?

I’ve been imagining air tax and subscription for breathing for quite a while now and I just believe it will happen sooner than later. Air is the only “utility” that is not being actively charged or managed by big corporations atm but with pollution, paying to breathe may become a reality. Wonder how many people can pay to survive then.

 

[4jasontv]

I’ve been imagining air tax and subscription for breathing for quite a while now and I just believe it will happen sooner than later. Air is the only “utility” that is not being actively charged or managed by big corporations atm but with pollution, paying to breathe may become a reality. Wonder how many people can pay to survive then.

It is taxed. It's called property taxes and there is a direct relationship between it and air quality.

 

[Shirasaki]

for his very important aspect of the app ecosystem.

That’s just one of many aspects: payments. And apple wont die just because they don’t get as much cut as it was before.

Apple won't just give them everything for free.

Apple never gave anything away for free (including free of charge apps and operating systems), and nobody expect devs to ask apple hosting their apps for free.

 

[Shirasaki]

It is taxed. It's called property taxes and there is a direct relationship between it and air quality.

Not quite. Housing is not strictly required, and mobile homes are picking up popularity in some parts of the world.
Also, expensive houses =/= inherently good air quality. Just ask people living in those mega cities.
But that’s besides the point here.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

I am having a hard time understanding you, so I apologize in advance if I misunderstood. You think that the experience is bad so you think you should pay Apple less? Ok, you do that by buying less software from them.

I don’t buy any software from apple. Those I have I have asked for a refund

Since Apple is responsible for much of the app's experience they deserve a percentage of the App sales.

No, I’m not unhappy with the app experience. I’m unhappy with the App Store experience. And every time I purchase anything I am forced to pay for an experience I don’t like

You show Apple that you don't like the app by not paying for it.

Well I wish i could. I love apple hardware and pay for it. I love apple iOS and can’t pay for it( or it’s included in the purchase)
I hate the App Store experience and am forced to support it. If I could choose not to pay for it I would.

You don't have a right to their software unless you pay for it, but by cutting your spending you send a clear message to Apple to develop better tools for their developers.

Well I can’t. I never use the App Store to find apps. I used to use iTunes App Store and would be happy to pay apple the fee on my purchase. but apple have removed that function so now I must use the iOS store and it’s really bad and am forced to pay for it. If I then want to buy something more in the app I am forced to use IAP and support it even more.

I am not able to stop supporting and paying for a service with really bad experience.

for this reason I try to never downloaded apps unless they are free to stop supporting the App Store untill the experience is good.

 

[vipergts2207]

But a developer fee would net Apple less money than a per-sale transaction. Since Apple is responsible for a majority of the app experience they do deserve a good percentage of the app's revenue.

How is Apple responsible for a majority of the app experience as opposed to the developer who created the app itself? I can only assume some crazy logic is leading you to such a conclusion.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

We can't trust developers and so we have to assume they will commit fraud and abuse their power.

We can’t trust apple ether

If we start with those assumptions it makes regulation of them easier to accept.

But the assumptions aren’t true for only one side. They are true for both sides

Apple isn't perfect, but it's better than not restricting developers.

If apple isn’t perfect then why should they be trusted more? Why should we trust apple more but not developers? both wants to earn as much money as possible.

Apple frequently tricks people with false claims and scare them to do things they would. The noose should be tightened around apples neck first then we can go down the ladder to developers if you want

 

[4jasontv]

How is Apple responsible for a majority of the app experience as opposed to the developer who created the app itself? I can only assume some crazy logic is leading you to such a conclusion.

No crazy logic. They provide the tools and suggestions for how to make apps on iOS. They invested in how to make good apps and provide that information to developers.