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EU says Apple’s App Store breaks competition rules after Spotify complaint

cnbc.com

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Re: EU says Apple’s App Store breaks competition rules after Spotify complaint

#2

Post by zibzab »

Unpopular opinion:

This was a no brainer. Apple wanted 30% (or was it less for subscriptions?) on any business that used apps, no matter if they used apple infrastructure or not.

Just think about it: one company is in practice entitled to 30% of what any other business makes (in any industry)!!

Also, I think apple brought this to themselves by picking a fight with Spotify (on Watch support).

Re: EU says Apple’s App Store breaks competition rules after Spotify complaint

#3

Post by rusk »

zibzab wrote: post #2

Unpopular opinion: This was a no brainer. Apple wanted 30% (or was it less for subscriptions?) on any business that used apps, no matter if they used apple infrastructure or not. Just think about it: one company is in practice entitled to 30% of what any other business makes (in any industry)!! Also, I think apple brought this to themselves by picking a fight with Spotify (on Watch support).

How is that unpopular? I think all but a fairly vocal minority of people (probably direct/indirect beneficiaries) would agree.

Re: EU says Apple’s App Store breaks competition rules after Spotify complaint

#6

Post by zibzab »

zibzab wrote: post #2

Unpopular opinion: This was a no brainer. Apple wanted 30% (or was it less for subscriptions?) on any business that used apps, no matter if they used apple infrastructure or not. Just think about it: one company is in practice entitled to 30% of what any other business makes (in any industry)!! Also, I think apple brought this to themselves by picking a fight with Spotify (on Watch support).

Should add, the ruling is not really about the validity of the 30% fee.

What EU seems to argue is this:

1. Apple is in phone business, Spotify music. So far so good...

2. Then apple wants to get into the music business too. Now they have an unfair advantage since Spotify must pay 30% to apple while apple music "pays" 0%. So apple use their dominance in one area (phones) to get an advantage in a totally different area (music), which is a textbook violation.

Re: EU says Apple’s App Store breaks competition rules after Spotify complaint

#8

Post by WA »

rusk wrote: post #3
zibzab wrote: post #2

Unpopular opinion: This was a no brainer. Apple wanted 30% (or was it less for subscriptions?) on any business that used apps, no matter if they used apple infrastructure or not. Just think about it: one company is in practice entitled to 30% of what any other business makes (in any industry)!! Also, I think apple brought this to themselves by picking a fight with Spotify (on Watch support).

How is that unpopular? I think all but a fairly vocal minority of people (probably direct/indirect beneficiaries) would agree.

"Their platform, their rules" – there are many people who say this, especially on HN.

Re: EU says Apple’s App Store breaks competition rules after Spotify complaint

#10

Post by throw14082020 »

The difference between EU and Apple is EU makes laws, and Apple makes guidelines. Here are my definitions: Guidelines: Do not break these. If you break these, your business will be crushed, the app removed for the app store. Law: Break them when they make financial sense. For large corporations, it makes sense to break relevant laws. e.g. GDPR.

In replying to zibzabs comment/ Unpopular opinion: Yes, they still did it because it makes financial sense. (see the definition of law above)

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