This sounds like an explicit over-reach by the regulator. If this is about competition, why would they force Apple to offer IAP? If this is about Dutch law, why would they force Apple to distribute the modified app in other countries?
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Dutch Regulator Says Apple Shouldn't Force Dating Apps to Offer Separate App for Alternative Payments
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Pulling out of the Netherlands would push that regulator to raise it to the EU and then the EU could rule against Apple. Should they pull out of the EU, too?
Apple does not take a cut of sales of physical goods. Only services (like dating) and electronic goods like moves, books, games, subscriptions.
Careful, you're applying a logical, rational argument in the face of ill thought and fanaticism.
Having worked for one of the largest payment providers on this planet, that’s actually about right.
I’m only not scared because I’m in the UK and the FCA, ombudsman and bank have my arse covered.
Sounds more like Apple is playing games. Fines at this level are minimal for Apple.
If Apple came back and said "Here is what we are working on to satisfy things." and solicit feedback ...
If your description is the factual case, why not just dump them.
Sounds like it is a bit of a cash cow perhaps?
ACM is not the government.
50 million means nothing.
The dutch economy is a lot larger than Apple.
When the ACM finds to be a company in the wrong it will fine them, they are OK if they operate within the Law.
The last sentence is just silly, The Netherlands is a major economy even though it's tiny.
The reason the court has added a more specific requirement is that Apple has been writing their compliance plans to an interpretation of the rules that is very favorable to Apple to a degree that seems like it is violating the spirit of the regulation. Apple, in their own conflict of interest, has put in some massive hurdles for the developers to implement any new payment systems. The regulator has clarified the regulation to disallow one of those hurdles. Apple is still able to charge 27% for the payments that don’t come through it’s systems and they can still force the apps to put up scary warnings that you can’t trust anyone but Apple with your credit card.
Why?
Apple has yet to propose a solution.
Propose a solution, solicit feedback, come to a design agreement, build and release it, and put the fines on hold as long as progress is being made.
Sounds more like Apple is doing an Opus.
Or maybe a Bill.
They are still entitled to their commissions if the Payment was initiated within the app.
They could get pressure from developers but the relationship of Microsoft and Sony with their developers is very different. Both Sony and Microsoft go out of their way to help developers product games for their systems. They also do a lot of promotion of the games. They treat game developers as valued partners and that goes a long way in a relationship. If they were to treat developers as parasites and make statements about how much work they have done to build their platforms and how the developers shouldn’t be ungrateful gits for complaining, then you might see some lawsuits and calls for regulation.
Have you ever tried to dump one? It's harder to lose than the crazy people you pick up on the apps ?
No one is saying Apple are entitled to commission from apps sold outside the App Store. But at the moment there is no 'outside the App Store' for this to be the case.
I agree. Inside the app (including initiated payments) then they should get their commissions. Outside (unless initial payment was initiated in the app) then Apple gets zero
Thats an interesting point. Whats makes the dating apps so important to rate this severe a penalty over everything else that is marketed thru the App Store?
That's how it currently works. All payments initiated from in an iOS app are subject to commission (where applicable). All payments initiated outside of an iOS app (such as on android or the internet) aren't subject to Apple's commission.
That commission on payments in an iOS app do not apply to physical goods. You can buy things from the Amazon app and Apple does not get a cut. that was Apple’s policy from the beginning, though I suspect they would love to change that now that they seem to be laser focused on getting app revenue.
Dating apps aren't being targeted, the judgement is because a group of dating apps are the ones who made the complaint to the regulator in the first place. Any other group of apps that asks for a similar judgement is likely to get the same result, but it makes no sense to do so until this situation is resolved and the precedent established.
So running "full page ads" would make Apple look very stupid.
What are you even talking about? Prostitution is already legal in the Netherlands, no need to hide it with an app. And if government officials are the main customers of dating apps, how can those apps grow so large with such a small user base?