They (Epic) are choosing not to back on iOS devices until they get what they want and Apple can now legally terminate them at any moment.
I'm sorry, what did they get?
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Epic Games vs. Apple Judgment Allows App Store Developers to Link to Alternative Payment Methods
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I'm sorry, what did they get?
It would seem odd to expect the winner to appeal a ruling, no? Objectively Apple won on some accounts, and lost on others. Apple being forced to allow third-party payments for all apps would seem to be a pretty big blow. Investors certainly think so, AAPL being down about 2.5% while indexes are flat to slightly positive. And the $3.6 million Apple is actually entitled to is certainly a rounding error of what they stand to lose through being required to allow third-party payments. Frankly Apple and Epic both appear to be overall losers to me, as Apple gets called out for their anti-competitive conduct and Epic is probably still without their developer account. Meanwhile consumers win.
While Apple was found not to be a monopoly in this case, they were found to have been "engaging in anticompetitive conduct" and their "anti-steering provisions hide critical information from consumers and illegally stifle consumer choice." This is precisely what so many people here have been saying, despite some folks wearing their rose tinted glasses when it comes to Apple.
Additionally, "the final trial record did not include evidence of other critical factors, such as barriers to entry and conduct decreasing output or decreasing innovation in the relevant market. The Court does not find that it is impossible; only that Epic Games failed in its burden to demonstrate Apple is an illegal monopolist." This would hardly seem to be the final word on whether Apple is monopolistic. Overall I think people, including myself, are rightfully feeling vindicated when they had called out Apple for their anti-competitive conduct.
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This isn't over yet, Epic still needs to win on appeal (if appealed) and Apple could still deny Fortnite from the app store under this ruling if they want (aka just because).
They’re aren’t back on the App Store, so they didn’t get exactly what they wanted…did they?
Bet hackers are rejoicing at this decision. I see hacks like that old free iap one coming back that leverage the link to external website for IA purchases. Sigh.
Probably the most sane and likely outcome of this suit. Apple forbidding app devs to be able to say “pay up on our website, it costs less” is anti-consumer and anti-developer.
Many don't appreciate this sentiment.
When having had enough problems with other payment systems, some decide to limit purchases to places that allow certain trustworthy systems. My father is becoming adamant about using only Apple-based payment services, foregoing purchases that don't go thru either Apple Store, Pay, or Card. I can't blame him, and am inclining that way too.
It's not a malicious sentiment, it's a consequential sentiment. Yeah I'll pay a bit more to know the payment won't get screwed up.
Epic wanted the world on a platter, for them, for free. They're not getting that.
What they are getting is the ability to get their whales to sign up directly with them and bypass the 30% commission on those gems or bux or whatever Fortnight uses. That is, the whales that weren't smart enough to have already worked that out on their own (assuming Epic was giving them some sort of discount/enticement to buy outside, since Epic didn't have to pay a commission on that). So... it's a small win for Epic. Arguably a big win for Apple, given the ways it could have gone.
I appreciate that the judge is requiring Epic to pay for their missteps.
I seem to recall there being testimony from Tim Cook, or others, that alluded to the fact that they expected to collect their 30% commission regardless of who handles the IAP, suggesting that having Apple handle everything simply made the bookkeeping easier all around.
The cost of having apps in the app store has been, thus far, $99/year to be in the developer program, plus a 30% commission on sales of apps and IAP. If lots of developers try to do their IAP without Apple getting a commission, Apple may well restructure the cost of having apps in the store to have a much greater up-front cost to the developer (a much larger membership fee for the developer program and/or $X/month to have each app appear in the store, or some such). This will end up benefiting some large developers, and probably hurting some small developers. The folks cheering for this because they think it means everything will be cheaper for end users, are in for a surprise.
Epic lost nothing but gain everything. That's just your opinion.
Netflix already does this, so does Amazon (Kindle), so does Spotify.
This also ignores the value that developers provide to Apple by offering apps on iOS. iPhones would be less valuable without any apps.
As someone else brought up, should ISPs get a cut of all sales over the internet, after all so many people collect billions in sales over the internet and the ISPs get a roughly flat rate per year from each person that uses the internet...
Won't happen. Default setting goes to the highest bidder. Nobody is being locked out; you want to be the default search engine? pay more than Google does.
Difference from this case is Apple wasn't letting anyone be a payment processor, at any price.
I don't share your opinion here. If the consumer trusts Apple with their payment data MORE than they trust an outside developer, potentially with less robust security measures, AND the customer (who is typically lazy) does not take the time to change their method of payment, Apple will still see a large majority of existing customers continue to pay using Apple's payment system.
It may be attractive for new customers perhaps, but the way I look at it, the more info you spread to more sources, the more likely it is to be compromised. Apple's resources are clearly greater than a most of the developers in terms of secure payments, and Apple has much more at stake in terms of protecting that information.
While an L for Apple, no doubt, its not going to reduce their revenue by "tens of billions". It will be marginal.
How did they lose? Epic wanted their own app store and they didnt get it? They will probably not come back to app store either, and if the are, I will for sure not play their games or even consider buying stuff via their homepage instead of in app
If you don't like the fees they charge then don't put your stuff on the platform... Simple! You know what the fee's are before you upload your app, it's not like it's a surprise afterwards!
This is the 3rd trial and Apple lost because they no longer be able to ban 3rd party in app purchase.
Interesting take on this here - Basically sees this as a minor victory for developers, but a much bigger win for Apple, and a possible threat to Google: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/10/epic-games-v-apple-judge-reaches-decision-.html
I suspect both Epic Games and Apple will appeal this decision so I do not think this legal battle is over with.
Let's have it for grocery stores as well:
- Cereal box advertises to pay at Kellogg's site
- By doing that I do not need to pay when exiting Target
- The court should order Target to continue to keep Kellogg's cereals on shelves for free
Apple can easily make up any loss of revenue by selling user data. You're almost there, Apple -- just do it! It's a like an untapped goldmine. Monetize anything and everything.
After having flipped through the ruling this seems like not only a win but a non-issue for Apple. Since Apple can already provide a "Developer's Website" link and sometimes a "Developer's Privacy Policy" link in an app's info page on the App Store Apple may already compliant with the ruling. Make a slight rewording in the app store's policy, then add the Developer's website's front page link someplace near the payment options and Apple may be done. I'm no lawyer though, maybe Apple has to link directly to the dev's payment system, I dunno.
My guess is their will be a temporary stay of the court order until all appeals have been exhausted.