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Epic Games Wins Major Victory as Apple is Ordered to Comply With App Store Anti-Steering Injunction [Updated]
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I would not be surprised if this goes to SCOTUS next. This is far from over unfortunately.
The analogy breaks down because shelf space is limited and roughly proportional to the products placed there. There is virtually no proportionality, on the other hand, between Apple's expenses for providing the service of the App Store (and of the whole iOS platform, if you want to count that), and what is being sold within apps. That is what is meant by "Apple's 30 percent commission [...] was not tied to the value of its intellectual property, and thus, was anticompetitive."
In the context of this topic, Epic lost "epicly" in court, even if they promise to halt future litigation, Apple is not under any duress to reinstate their US developer account.
I would judge her just as harshly if she were a he, neuter, asexual, or whatever!
I agree that Apple has been abusive of their position as a market leader in the US, BUT, I entirely DISAGREE that their APP STORE ‘offers nothing of value’ or nothing worth a fee.
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If the App Store, which belongs to Apple, offered NO VALUE, then why would tens of millions of developers use it? Just because it has been 20 years and we’re all now well-acquainted with the idea of a digital storefront, doesn’t negate the work they did and continue in order to produce and manage and maintain the store/service.
I do think that one of the major problems Apple exacerbated was not allowing alternative App Stores and apps from outside of their curated store. Had they done so, there would have been more consumer choice (likely a POOR choice, but hey, it would exist and some would go there).
I do think Apple has the right to police and stipulate just how an item appears in their store. With this ruling, I fully expect the Store to turn into a free for all of hideous blaring, moving ad banners within each little app window.
NO THANK YOU.
As for Epic, as others have said, any societal benefits that MAY accrue due to this legal ruling are a mere by-product to them. Their goal has only ever been to use a service for free, and increase their own executives’ salaries and bonuses.
When you dig into the details here, it becomes more and more clear:
Tim Cook needs to retire (or be forced to)
Tim Cook needs to retire (or be forced to)
I mean, I wouldn’t use an Android tablet for THAT reason, but I find it equally annoying!
Still I do now have a little mini eink Android tablet e-note that uses Wacom EMR Pen tech, so no charging needed (for the pen). And writing on it feels super. So I have dipped my foot into the other pool…but only because the basic tech I wanted simply isn’t available any other way.
Unreal. So Epic gets to freeload off of Apple's blood, sweat & tears and provide nothing in return? Just a disgraceful ruling by a judge with an axe to grind
In the context of this article, Epic won, and Apple epically lost, especially since the judge has referred them for charges of criminal contempt. I see no way to spin this as a win for Apple.
When Cook/Apple freeloads off of Epic's ip then come make that asinine comparison
You mean, like charging 30% for V Bucks ???
Certiorari was denied. It’s not going to the Supreme Court. Barring the potential criminal contempt proceedings against Apple mentioned in the article, it is over.
As a developer we already pay $99 a year. Apple could have literally just NOT charged 30%. At 5% or even 10% developers would have groaned but ultimately the convenience and it all being built in is a huge advantage. Plus for a lot of developers it would be cheaper than building out a solution.
SCOTUS permanently said "we will not look at this case" meaning effectively this fight is over.
Legislating from the bench is a huge problem in this country that threatens the balances of power. It's far too common
None of this would be happening if Apple had been charging a reasonable 5% or so.
And that’s an example of how competition benefits consumers. Both Apple and Epic are fighting over the 30%, and now small companies get to reap the reward of not paying 15% to Apple.
epic should allow Apple to sell skins in the game. Steer payment to Apple. That is fair too.
Good. I’m glad the judge smacked Apple down hard. I like that they pointed out there is no ‘scare screen’ when purchasing physical goods in-app. What’s the difference in terms of security between purchasing something digital and something physical? And what about in the browser? I buy stuff on amazon.com all the time. They have my credit card stores. I don’t get any warning messages or scare screens when I buy something on the web in Safari.
This isn’t about processing payments or what it costs to run the App Store. This is about Apple executives believing you’re theircustomer only. They own you, they own the relationship with you. Any company that makes money via an iOS app is only making that money because of Apple and therefore Apple deserves a share of that revenue. As I’ve said before if Apple could get away with taking a cut services like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart etc. they’d do it in a heartbeat. Heck Eddy Cue once said Uber wouldn’t exist without Apple. But would the iPhone exist if not for the carriers and ISPs? What if AT&T says I’m their customer and they deserve a cut of every iPhone sale because without their service the iPhone would be pretty worthless? Somehow I don’t think Tim Cook would agree with that.
Edit: this passage 🔥 Interesting too that Phil Schiller wanted to comply but Cook overruled him/went around him.
This isn’t about processing payments or what it costs to run the App Store. This is about Apple executives believing you’re theircustomer only. They own you, they own the relationship with you. Any company that makes money via an iOS app is only making that money because of Apple and therefore Apple deserves a share of that revenue. As I’ve said before if Apple could get away with taking a cut services like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart etc. they’d do it in a heartbeat. Heck Eddy Cue once said Uber wouldn’t exist without Apple. But would the iPhone exist if not for the carriers and ISPs? What if AT&T says I’m their customer and they deserve a cut of every iPhone sale because without their service the iPhone would be pretty worthless? Somehow I don’t think Tim Cook would agree with that.
Edit: this passage 🔥 Interesting too that Phil Schiller wanted to comply but Cook overruled him/went around him.
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Reversing a denial of certiorari is rare but not impossible, especially if Apple can convince four justices to hear the case given the impact of the lower court actions here.
Let's hope not.
There are WAY more important things for the SC to be doing than this.
Time to put this one to bed and adjust and comply.
Not even the same issue. Apple charges the 30% for the hosting, vetting, the tools to make the apps and more and charges appropriately for them.
Please tell me what Epic is providing to Apple. I'll wait.
The same way everyone has been freeloading off of Apples blood, sweat and tears while providing nothing in return for the Mac from 1984 through today.
The way the Internet freeloads on Webkit every time a purchase is made in Safari. The way Google and the rest of the internet freeloads from Webkit with the trillions transacted through Chrome.
They tightened their grip only to cause the prize to leap from their fingers. What else will jump out in the coming years?