U.S. Developers Can Now Offer Non-App Store Purchasing Option, But Apple Will Still Collect Commissions

[Silver78]

I simply quit using app store and cut down heavily on apple products.. my money is now in apple stock instead.

 

[1129846]

You had to duplicate the disks etc. even if you sold it yourself. Which wasn’t a likely possibility. So there always was a fixed cost even if you hawked your software on the corner of 12th st and vine.

Seems like the comparison is valid. A more modern comparison is to create a web app bypassing the App Store.

Web app is no where close to the thing. Radically different

And now we are back to side loading does not affect you and will not cause a big issue as look at MacOS. You said elsewhere not the same thing.

Using YOUR own standards you are using an invalid comparison. So under your OWN standard it has a valid counter someone can choose to supply an app outside of the App Store if Apple allows side loading with the same setup as Mac OS.

Since Apple does not allow it then you can not compare the retail cut of Apple App Store to retail as instead you have a monopoly and anti trust issues.

 

[JordanCautious]

Apple basically just trolled them lmao. This is too funny. It's pretty obvious they knew it would be challenged in court again because collecting 27% instead of 30% basically makes it pointless. I think they deadass just trolled Epic lmao

 

[sw1tcher]

There are several requirements that developers need to adhere to maintain the privacy and security of the App Store ecosystem, and notably, Apple will collect a commission on purchases made using these Entitlement Links. Rather than 30 percent, Apple will collect a 27 percent fee on user purchases or year-one subscriptions made through the link. On the second year of a subscription, the commission fee drops to 12 percent, which is three percentage points lower than the 15 percent fee that Apple collects from second-year or longer subscriptions made through the in-app purchase system. Apps that participate in the App Store Small Business Program will be charged a 12 percent commission rate.

Entitlement. How appropriately named. Apple thinks they're still entitled to a cut of sales even though purchases are made without use Apple's payment system.

 

[vladi]

StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement? Hahahahahahahahaha

 

[I7guy]

Web app is no where close to the thing. Radically different

And now we are back to side loading does not affect you and will not cause a big issue as look at MacOS. You said elsewhere not the same thing.

It will be, imo, the gradual decline of the ecosystem, at least in the EU as scamware, malware and phishware apps can flourish. Multiple app stores can be a race to the bottom with competition and plagiarism.

Using YOUR own standards you are using an invalid comparison. So under your OWN standard it has a valid counter someone can choose to supply an app outside of the App Store if Apple allows side loading with the same setup as Mac OS.

One way of bypassing the ios app store is to develop a web app. That avenue is always open.

Since Apple does not allow it then you can not compare the retail cut of Apple App Store to retail as instead you have a monopoly and anti trust issues.

Well as far as legal monopoly and anti-trust issues. Yes legal monopoly. Anti-trust issues - yeah the government would like to prove it, but it's not as simple as all that. And you can be Apple will be prepared. The only thing needed is popcorn.

 

[@Brett]

"Apple will collect a 27 percent fee on user purchases or year-one subscriptions made through the link."

This is such nonsense considering at this point the money processing is not handled by Apple anymore. By the time you pay the 3rd party processor and Apple's 27%, you are doing far far worse than just paying Apple 30%, and my guess is that is the point.

So developers should get access to Apple’s ecosystem at no cost?

 

[tobybrut]

So Apple is admitting the 30% was always about them believing revenue a developer earns is because of Apple and therefore they deserve a cut. Even though many developers say Apple is not steering customers to them, doesn’t promote them on the App Store, etc. You could maybe make this argument for apps that are iOS only but apps that are cross-platform and available on the web…why does Apple deserve a cut of their business?

Nah, this is Apple’s way of sticking it to Epic and making sure they win nothing. It’s non-compliance compliance at its best. I’m laughing at Epic. They got what they wanted, but they’re not getting a dime extra out of it. Apple is adhering to the letter of the ruling, but found a way to screw Epic anyway. I absolutely love this stick in the eye.

The 3% they’re not taking is the amount Apple gets charged for processing credit card charges.

 

[aidler]

View attachment 2337369

All of these whataboutism arguments are incredibly stupid. The fact remains that Apple's commissions for its App Store are excessive and need to be significantly reduced. All of these problems and lawsuits wouldn't exist if Apple had come to its senses and charged a reasonable commission of maybe 3%.

Apple would still make a lot of money from its App Store, it wouldn't have to spend millions to defend its untenable position, and Tim Cook might only get 5 million instead of 25 million.

 

[Xenden]

The F. Sorry but it’s non of Apples business what I am doing outside of the ecosystem once I click on a link!

If someone wants to do businesses through an app on an iPhone, Apple is owed their commission.

Apple provides the platform, if the company doesn’t like it, they can go to Android.

I wonder how that is even legal.

It is legal because app developers agree to it.

 

[m4mario]

"Apple will collect a 27 percent fee on user purchases or year-one subscriptions made through the link."

This is such nonsense considering at this point the money processing is not handled by Apple anymore. By the time you pay the 3rd party processor and Apple's 27%, you are doing far far worse than just paying Apple 30%, and my guess is that is the point.

The money was never for processing. About 3% was for processing. The rest is for the ecosystem of libraries, developer tools and training provided by Apple to developers for free. Well it's not free, it's just not paid upfront. It is paid as a commission to Apple on all digital sales.

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

All of these whataboutism arguments are incredibly stupid. The fact remains that Apple's commissions for its App Store are excessive and need to be significantly reduced. All of these problems and lawsuits wouldn't exist if Apple had come to its senses and charged a reasonable commission of maybe 3%.

Apple would still make a lot of money from its App Store, it wouldn't have to spend millions to defend its untenable position, and Tim Cook might only get 5 million instead of 25 million.

3% would not be reasonable, that wouldn’t even cover Apple’s costs for transaction fees and support needed for refunds and chargebacks.

 

[arlomedia]

It used to be in the old days, retailers took a 30% cut to sell your software. Is that mutual benefit?

It probably was since brick-and-mortar distribution has higher expenses. That doesn't justify charging the same commission level for online distribution.

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

Absolute garbage and over reach from Apple. Classic petulant child tactics. I hope they get dragged over the coals for this anti-competitive behaviour.

 

[arlomedia]

The money was never for processing. About 3% was for processing. The rest is for the ecosystem of libraries, developer tools and training provided by Apple to developers...

...and profit -- around $75 billion a year based on a quick search. A lot of these arguments seem to take the position that Apple is being super generous by providing platform tools and a modest 15-30% commission just helps them cover their expenses.

 

[trusso]

Sorry, Apple, but you're not handling money processing so you should have no say (or collection from) what people charge.

And don't give me the "well, Apple makes the developer tools" crap. Apple has to make their own developer tools because if they didn't, no one would develop for them, because Apple has burned so many bridges.

Seriously, Apple needs third-party developers a lot more than third-party developers need them.

 

[I7guy]

It probably was since brick-and-mortar distribution has higher expenses. That doesn't justify charging the same commission level for online distribution.

Like the old days, it’s still an opt-in program though.

 

[Havoc035]

Apple still collecting its deserved commissions even for side loading for hosting the world’s greatest platform was never in doubt. Why didn’t epic or any others see this? It’s because the media fabricated this “side loading no commission scenario” lol.

Wishful thinking by Sweeney. But in the legal battle Apple wasn’t forbidden from asking a commission so of course they will.

 

[SoldOnApple]

I wonder what Steve Jobs would have thought of all this. I bet late night screaming matches over the phone with Senators.

 

[RigSatMe]

Gimmick! If devs don't like the conditions and terms, why complain? Leave App Store, create alternative market, create alternative mobile OS, challenge Apple and stop complaining!
Nowadays, no alternative innovation, only punishing legislation, period.

 

[Kmad86]

I don't understand this. If you don't like it, don't use it. They created it, they should be able to do what they want.

I personally think EPIC charges too much for digital clothing and dance moves, but you know what, I don't buy them.

 

[SoldOnApple]

Apple is 15% for their bulk customers and Epic is losing money at 12% as documented in their court case.

Apple also loses Fortnite, which gave them serious gaming credit which is an area they are thinking of moving into. But Epic loses by not selling Fortnite Bucks on iPhones and iPads, Epic loses by discounting their own PC gaming portal by giving away games and undercutting Steam to try and cheat some growth. But if that growth pays off then Epic wins big, if the battle for 0% fee for selling on iOS and Android is won then Epic stands to gain billions. If Epic ever got market dominance you can bet they would raise their own fees up to where Steam/Apple/Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft have it today...

 

[gsurf123]

iOS is Apples in intellectual property and no one is going to ride for free using it. You certainly aren’t gonna be able to pay $99 and expect to distribute for free. Just take a look at every other, none of them are free for developers and most have a similar cost structure.

 

[aParkerMusic]

Hhahahahahahahahahahaha

Told you.

hahahahahhaahahahahaha

so much for the “critical” change some people thought was coming.

 

[aParkerMusic]

Apple doesn't know when to just shut the fùck up. When they forbade app developers to even TELL users about an alternate payment method, without even linking to it... they crossed the line to epic douchebaggery and deserved a smackdown.

you defend leeches. Apple created the platform, they deserve to benefit from it, and the other developers who benefit from it should pay.