Epic Games, Spotify, and Tile Form 'Coalition for App Fairness' to 'Fight Back' Against Apple

[MacRumors]

A range of companies, including Epic Games, Spotify, and Tile, have formed a new organization called the "Coalition for App Fairness," in an effort to highlight developer issues with Apple.

The organization describes itself as "an independent nonprofit organization founded by industry-leading companies to advocate for freedom of choice and fair competition across the app ecosystem." The coalition is based in Washington D.C. and Brussels, and aims to lead legal and regulatory changes with regards to what it says are three key issues; "anti-competitive policies," "30 percent app tax," and "no consumer freedom."

It sets out a ten-point plan on its website for changes it would like to see made. The points include the demands that "no developer should be required to use an app store exclusively," "every developer should always have access to app stores," "every developer should always have the right to communicate directly with its user through its app," "no app store owner or its platform should engage in self-preferencing its own apps or services," and "no developer should be required to pay unfair, unreasonable or discriminatory fees or revenue shares."

The group includes Epic Games, Spotify, Tile, Basecamp, Blix, Blockchain, Deezer, the European Publishers Council, Match, News Media Europe, Prepear, ProtonMail, and SkyDemon, many of whom have had major disagreements with Apple over various issues.

The group is actively lobbying other developers to join it, saying "together we will fight back against the monopolist control of the app ecosystem by Apple."

Article Link: Epic Games, Spotify, and Tile Form 'Coalition for App Fairness' to 'Fight Back' Against Apple

 

[topgunn]

There are blatant mistruths on the App Fairness front page. For example, "For most purchases made within the App Store, Apple takes 30% of the purchase price. No other transaction fee — in any industry — comes close."

Let's list other companies that charge a similar fee for similar overhead: Google, Steam, Amazon, UberEats, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, GrubHub, eBay+PayPal, and the list goes on, I am sure.

Another example, "If consumers want to use a modern mobile device, Apple levies a tax that no one can avoid. No competition, no options, no recourse."

Unless the Apple tax now extends to the billions of Android phones out there, this is ridiculous on its face. While I content that Apple and it's ecosystem are superior (in large part due to the App Store and it's walled garden), to say that Android-based phones are not a modern mobile device and that Apple has no competition is being willfully ignorant, at best.

 

[I7guy]

Maybe these companies that founded this self-serving coalition ought to invent their own phone and own ecosystem? If they don't like the T&C let leave and lose those lucrative $$$.

 

[Zeroshiftfactor]

Looks like it’s...game over...for Apple.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

I really do wish sites like this one would quit giving these guys a megaphone. Why we continue to incentivize whining with increased exposure is beyond me.

 

[citysnaps]

Oooooh, a coalition! So adorable!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Apple will fight back 10X harder and stronger. It’s game over for them.

The three biggest crybabies in the industry formed a coalition of CRYING... Bunch of Cry babies.

Epic games how does it feel not having any income coming in. You are messing with the top dog. Give it up.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Hahahahaha. So funny. Can't wait for Apple to crush these morons and put them out of business.

 

[Paul_a]

Wouldn't it be fully within Apple's rights to completely shut down the app store and just create and publish any apps their customers might need?

 

[ChrisBos]

Also, for what it's worth...

*Apple announces Apple One*

Me, to my wife: Sooo random question, but how married are you to Spotify in particu–

Her: We're not getting Apple Music.

Me: This new bundle is a great deal since we're already paying fo–

Her: Buy it yourself if you want it.

 

[Lekro]

Oh no, not Spotify please.

 

[CylonGlitch]

Maybe these companies that founded this self-serving coalition ought to invent their own phone and own ecosystem? If they don't like the T&C let leave and lose those lucrative $$$.

Exactly, Apple has spent BILLIONS and many years developing and producing an Eco system that is safe, secure and comprehensive. Should they NOT be paid for their work? If you don't like it, there is another eco system down the street to go play on (Android, or Windows mobile). Or better yet, spend the time and money and build your own eco system, then you can do anything you want on it.

For this, I will NEVER buy another EPIC product again, ever.

 

[Schranke]

It's okay for a coalition like this to exist, but they should at least not focus on a single company but the market overall. This includes Sony and the playstation platform, Microsoft and the Xbox platform, and I am sure much more especially if you dive into what app developers take as an overhead like in JustEat, Wolt, and so on.

 

[Glideslope]

Good luck. The Hippocrates unite.

 

[DNichter]

This stuff is kind of amusing. You could maybe argue that 30% is too high, but Apple has their argument for charging this much as well. This feels like a losing battle to me though. Take your app off the App Store and see how well you do.

 

[4jasontv]

That’s a mouthful. I’m just going to call them the Suicide Squad.

 

[Bistroengine]

These whiney bitches need to grow a pair and figure out how to compete on their own terms within the rules that are presented to them. I already have the 'freedom' to choose Spotify if I want to but I don't because their software is clunky and bloated with too many features.

 

[alpi123]

Spotify?...

 

[iPrabhu]

So, they want to use all the resources provided by Apple and don't want to pay the fee. They don't mind that fee when they are small. When the amount goes in millions, now they cry.

 

[jayducharme]

They should call it the CMP: the Coalition to Maximize Profit.

 

[CylonGlitch]

Companies that will NEVER see another penny from my pocket.

• Epic Games
• Spotify
• Tile
• Basecamp
• Blix
• Blockchain
• Deezer
• the European Publishers Council
• Match
• News Media Europe
• Prepear
• ProtonMail
• SkyDemon

 

[azentropy]

I can think of another name for this coalition.... but might get me suspended...

 

[otternonsense]

Hahahahaha. So funny. Can't wait for Apple to crush these morons and put them out of business.

Well, not Spotify for sure, it's still the one leading the streaming music race. Not that Apple would mind ousting the competition from its platform, but I'm sure the users would mind plenty.

 

[redgreenski]

Companies that will NEVER see another penny from my pocket.

• Epic Games
• Spotify
• Tile
• Basecamp
• Blix
• Blockchain
• Deezer
• the European Publishers Council
• Match
• News Media Europe
• Prepear
• ProtonMail
• SkyDemon

Some of these companies also abuse user data and sell it to the highest bidder. I am sorry but I have no sympathy whatsoever.

 

[normang]

This is a typical attempt to force "fairness" that most of these companies do not or would not abide by themselves. All they want is a free lunch, usually at the expense of others.

Its been said many times, Apple is offering direct access to the millions of iPhone users through their store, just as Google does with the Play store, yet somehow it seems Google is not being attacked in this way, or not as directly. And to think that Apple, or anyone is going to give someone 'free" access to Store infrastructure for nothing is very foolish and has zero concept of what it takes to run a business, let alone stay in business..

just give me my free stuff... or I'll force my way in legally or illegally, its still a form of theft.