Spotify Sides With Epic Games in Battle Against Apple's App Store Fees

[Attirex]

"...especially when Apple does not have to pay the same fees for Apple Music."

Apple should charge itself fees? I mean, a plan in which I charge myself a dollar for every web site I visit sounds like a GREAT moneymaking scheme, until I realize that....uh....err.....

 

[JetBlack7]

Because of course they did...

 

[itsmilo]

So if a vendor doesn’t accept AmEx, I should sue them to accept my payment method?

it’s more like you get kicked out for even mentioning different payment options but their own.

its like Walmart promoting a sale of 50% off retail price if you buy it at Walmart instead of getting it directly from the manufacturer. Apple wouldn’t allow that

 

[banjo1]

They just want to use all of Apple's services, products, and stores for free, without limitation and on their own terms. Um, that's not how the real world works. If they want to have their own rules, go have your own store.

 

[Realityck]

Of course Spotify is siding with Epic. Nether company wants to pay Apple a penny for their success though selling on the AppStore.

If that was 5-10% fee it might be a lot better then 15 to 30% fee. Apple is worth way more now, still the rich get richer and the poor developers less so.

 

[fluchtpunkt]

If Spotify and Epic don’t want to pay the price of admission, then they can do without the Apple app store. They won’t do that, though.

Of course they won't. Because the only alternative in iOS would be web-apps. And Apple refuses to implement certain web-technologies in a way that would allow developers to create web-apps that could compete with native apps.
Because web-apps definitely won't pay the 30% every developer owes Apple.

 

[btrach144]

Let’s see Spotify put their money where their mouth is and implement a 3rd party payment system and get their app pulled.

Epic needs backup. If developers back each other up, Apple will be forced to allow 3rd party payment systems.

 

[JPack]

For one, it's Apple that created the store for their eco-system. They didn't force people to buy the Mac OS. They can't expect to build a store and not get a kick-back on the profit.

On the other hand, I don't know if 30% is justifiable in terms of kick back due to the benefits they received from Apple.

I don't know who is the more greedy one here.

Sort of like how Microsoft didn't force anyone to buy Windows? They were declared a monopoly.

Apple can build the App Store. But the issue is not allowing anyone else to build their own store.

 

[ruka.snow]

Problem is they can't because there's no other way to make your app available on iOS.

To be clear, I think it's fine for Apple to decide what can and can't go on the App Store. But equally they shouldn't restrict users from installing apps from outside the app store.

Both Spotify and Epic are free to make web apps that can be shoved on the iOS home screen like any other app and even have local databases and assets. Epic could be putting some of their muscle into Web Assembly and Open GL in the browser. Spotify might have more issues with background playback, but they can surely work on a solution.

 

[The Cappy]

of course, there's a real irony that the financial juggernaught that is Fortnite feels that Apple should provide its app for free on the App Store (because it's a "free app"). And then somehow they're the injured party for not getting to funnel 100% of the actual (not inconsiderable) revenue through their own private pipes without Apple even getting a dime.

 

[bbs008]

Glad to see these companies finally speak up against Apple. This is a great first step.

 

[tokajilover]

Epic out, Spotify applauded, Apple Stock up 1.8% - interesting world

 

[itsmilo]

They just want to use all of Apple's services, products, and stores for free, without limitation and on their own terms. Um, that's not how the real world works. If they want to have their own rules, go have your own store.

except NOT. They left it up to the customer to decide. They did NOT remove the option to pay with Apple directly. You could have paid with Apple, which is resulting in a 30% cut for basically convenience or pick the cheaper option but more hassle to pay. I think it would be great to have the choice

of course, there's a real irony that the financial juggernaught that is Fortnite feels that Apple should provide its app for free on the App Store (because it's a "free app"). And then somehow they're the injured party for not getting to funnel 100% of the actual (not inconsiderable) revenue through their own private pipes without Apple even getting a dime.

that’s not what they are asking for though? They didn’t even implement it as so it would have been for „free“ before it got kicked out. The issue is that you can’t have choices. They didn’t remove the option to pay with Apple which still results in a 30% cut. I feel like no one reads anymore 🤷🏽‍♂️

—-

My two cent:

yes Apple is free to ask for a 30% cut IF you decide to pay with Apple

what I don’t agree with is being such a bitch about it and not even letting developers mention other payment methods ON TOP

 

[The Cappy]

Sort of like how Microsoft didn't force anyone to buy Windows.

Microsoft's market share of desktops was overwhelming. Apple's isn't, either with desktop or mobile. So no... not sort of like that after all.

 

[farewelwilliams]

It all started with Apple not allowing a xCloud app in the App Store, which is absurd since it’s a streaming app just like Netflix. Apple wanted to “approve” each individual game and a slice of the pie (sales). I’m glad Epic through its weight in the fight, and now Spotify has joined. Expect more companies to join in...

It didn't *start* there. OnLive was a similar service that existed back in 2011-2012 and they couldn't get their app on the app store.

Microsoft knew they couldn't get their app on the store but did it anyways for PR.

 

[LeadingHeat]

I get that they want to make a big splash, (and that they did), but I can’t help but notice the fact that they signed the contract in the first place saying they wouldn’t break any of the rules. Of course this would happen. They should have joined in on the antitrust thing outside of this, because there’s a good chance this could get thrown out since they breached their contract. Sure it may eventually cause Apple to change guidelines since it runs so parallel to the antitrust case going on, but to be clear they did violate their agreement so of course Apple had to pull their app.

 

[JPack]

Microsoft's market share of desktops was overwhelming. Apple's isn't, either with desktop or mobile. So no... not sort of like that after all.

MS wasn't declared a monopoly because of market share alone. It was because they put up barriers to entry. The App Store is a huge barrier.

 

[Nozuka]

If they all band together and just get their apps removed, apple will be in trouble. Just need netflix to join and people will be furious.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Take a second to read the complaint. Epic alleges the single option / Apple payment processing is at issue and monopolistic, not the store. I tend to agree given the law.

Look at it from the store out, not from the product down. For instance, say that a mall forced every store to use the mall's credit card processing service. That's ok because there are many malls and business/consumer choice. But now assume that the mall also makes its own product (phone?), and the only way to sell for the phone is through its mall using its processing service.

Allowing multiple payment options discourages in-app purchase since the user shouldn't be asked to enter credit card details on a mobile device. Epic is arguing for 100% of a smaller pie vs 70% of a bigger pie.

 

[fluchtpunkt]

Both Spotify and Epic are free to make web apps that can be shoved on the iOS home screen like any other app and even have local databases and assets.

And all the data you have stored in your local database will be erased if you don't use the web app for 7 days. For privacy reason, and totally not to make web-apps not being able to compete.

If you only use 1Password in Safari, it’s time to start also using an app | 1Password

If you signed up for 1Password in Safari and aren’t already using one of the 1Password apps, it’s important to start today. Here’s why.

blog.1password.com

Epic could be putting some of their muscle into Web Assembly and Open GL in the browser. Spotify might have more issues with background playback, but they can surely work on a solution.

They can't work on a solution, because Apple decides what the iOS browser is allowed to do. And that's not features that allow web-apps to be competitive. Because web-apps don't pay 30%

 

[yakapo]

third party apps should be allowed on iOS just like they are allowed on OS X.

 

[Appleman3546]

Apple may feel the wrath of fortnite users! There were people willing to pick up a Samsung specifically for an exclusive fortnite skin

 

[LeadingHeat]

When consumer is not happy what happened (their kid spent $100 in V-bucks), they might not understand who is at fault and complain Apple about that instead of EPIC.

Haha you’re kidding yourself if you think that most “might not” understand who to blame. 100% of the time they would go to Apple first to dispute something, haha 😂

 

[farewelwilliams]

I'm perfectly okay with Apple having their payment system and even charging 30%. What I have an issue with, and agree with Epic and Spotify on, is that Apple bans even mentioning other ways to pay from inside apps. This is an anticompetitive practice (because Apple isn't losing 30% on their own services they sell) and needs to go.

Because it should be the responsibility by the app developer to tell the user how to pay for the app before they download it. If the user discovers how to pay for it within the app, then Apple had a hand in converting a user to a paid customer and they deserve something for it.

 

[Crash0veride]

Yeah really seems like one of the largest games companies in the industry (a market apple dabbles in at best, and where every platform provider takes a similar cut) and the largest music streaming service are really having trouble competing *eyeroll*

Also the micro-transaction economy of fortnite should be criminal itself.