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Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

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Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#161

Post by damnyou »

almost_usual wrote: post #145
meheleventyone wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t it the other way around that iOS users should be able to shop in competing stores for their apps? It’s just very few users have any real ability to affect that sort of change.

I wouldn’t be opposed to this but Apple could make a case that using a competing app store voids warranty or care because they can no longer guarantee the software is ‘safe’ for iOS.

Yes, which is why they should be mandated by law to include them anyway. Maybe that will force them to figure out a better security strategy.

Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#162

Post by [deleted] »

shajznnckfke wrote: post #47
CubsFan1060 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Additionally, 10 different payment systems. I trust Apple. I'd like to buy whatever subscription, but now "Joe's email app" wants my credit card number. Now I have to figure out if I trust them as well.

I’m a huge fan of Apple Pay and do not begrudge the 0.15% cut they take on those transactions. The cut they take for App Store purchases is over 100x that amount, which is obscene.

[deleted]

Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#163

Post by akjssdk »

akmarinov wrote: post #135
chrisshroba wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Which additional transactions do you wish Apple would take a 30% cut on? That's not what they said. Apple already handles payment processing via Apple Pay for real world goods (Amazon, Food delivery, Wish), and does not take a cut of the transaction. Some people see Apple controlling payments for many companies as monopolistic and overreaching, but some (like the parent poster and myself to a degree) see it as a sa…

Apple takes 0.15% of every transaction that used Apple Pay, though- https://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/12/more-apple-pay-details/ They haven’t developed it to not make money off of it.

Doesn't every single payment provider do this though?

Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#164

Post by meheleventyone »

almost_usual wrote: post #145
meheleventyone wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t it the other way around that iOS users should be able to shop in competing stores for their apps? It’s just very few users have any real ability to affect that sort of change.

I wouldn’t be opposed to this but Apple could make a case that using a competing app store voids warranty or care because they can no longer guarantee the software is ‘safe’ for iOS.

In a theoretical anti-trust investigation wouldn’t that been seen as extremely anti-competitive?

Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#165

Post by valuearb »

shajznnckfke wrote: post #47
CubsFan1060 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Additionally, 10 different payment systems. I trust Apple. I'd like to buy whatever subscription, but now "Joe's email app" wants my credit card number. Now I have to figure out if I trust them as well.

I’m a huge fan of Apple Pay and do not begrudge the 0.15% cut they take on those transactions. The cut they take for App Store purchases is over 100x that amount, which is obscene.

Comparing a payment processing fee to hosting content on a store site is completely disingenuous. The costs are wildly little different and it’s unlikely any App Store like Apples could even pay for itself with only a 10% cut, for example..

Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#166

Post by MagnumOpus »

jaegerpicker wrote: post #95
ardit33 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Until regulations steps in, and mandates to be more fair and open, or to break up the company, or to allow multiple app stores (by competitors). At the end of the day, and iPad is a general computing device, and it will probably be treated as such in courts, where there are precedents on this.

What does it being a general computing device have to do with anything? Is it the only general computing device available? PC's and Androids exist, how is Apple in anyway a monopoly when they don't even have control of the market?

The are abusing a dominant position (as the only seller of iOS devices) to cross subsidise their software business and muscle out competitors in the services space (Apple Music vs other music services). That is a fairly clear breach of antitrust rules.

The prohibition of third party transactions or third party App stores are less clear to breach, but there is a case to be made...

Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#167

Post by cocktailpeanuts »

It's interesting how the industry is shaking up in so many different ways lately.

1. TikTok and WeChat getting banned (This will also have a huge side effect for Apple)

2. Uber and Lyft regulated to classify drivers as employees

3. Influential companies trying to tear down the Apple payment walled garden (Last time it was Hey, but this time it's Fortnite, which is infinitely more formidable). Now the only thing left is for Google to come out and say "we're going to charge zero commission for our in-app payments", and the wall will be down pretty soon.

I feel like there's some pattern here that may change the overall game of the tech industry. Grabbing some popcorn and waiting for new opportunities to open up!

Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#168

Post by threeseed »

akmarinov wrote: post #135
chrisshroba wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Which additional transactions do you wish Apple would take a 30% cut on? That's not what they said. Apple already handles payment processing via Apple Pay for real world goods (Amazon, Food delivery, Wish), and does not take a cut of the transaction. Some people see Apple controlling payments for many companies as monopolistic and overreaching, but some (like the parent poster and myself to a degree) see it as a sa…

Apple takes 0.15% of every transaction that used Apple Pay, though- https://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/12/more-apple-pay-details/ They haven’t developed it to not make money off of it.

Mastercard, Visa etc all take a fee for transactions.

There are serious costs involved in running an international payments system.

But that's very different from a proper 30% style cut.

Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#169

Post by mamurphy »

almost_usual wrote: post #109
aaomidi wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely lol.

are you suggesting they were threatened?

are you suggesting they had any alternative if they wanted to pursue iPhone customers?

Re: Apple removes Fortnite from App Store after Epic attempts to bypass fees

#170

Post by metric10 »

xoxoy wrote: post #90
ecf wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn’t Epic take a cut out of every single purchase made of a game built with Unreal Engine? Seems kinda hypocritical that they’re taking this stance when their licensing model is arguably just as burdensome on developers. In my opinion, Epic should not put their app on the App Store if they don’t like the terms, just as they would tell a developer to not use their engine if they don’t like the terms.

30% is extremely high by any reasonable standard for any marketplace

It’s so strange to me that after all this time they’re sticking with the high fee. The App Store is a major feature of the iOS platform and Apple benefits greatly from a healthy app ecosystem and user lock in. I would argue the 30% fee may not be a net gain for Apple.
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