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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

#101

Post by Retric »

teknopaul wrote: post #21
dustinmoris wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with this principle but in this specific case it’s not true because Apple started their music business long before the iPhone and Spotify existed. In fact they started with the iPod and their music business with the iPod is what lead them to invent the iPhone and the AppStore. It’s rich from other music businesses like Spotify to want to benefit from all of the R&D and innovation cost from Apple and the marke…

starting first does not mean you are not abusing your monopoly. Another way of looking at this is that a 30% margin is preventing a lot of businesses from happening until Apple do it. The 30% is less of a concern that the fact that they can shut you down on a whim.

Apple doesn’t get a cut of their advertising revenue, and according to Apple was only paid 15% on subscriptions. With credit card processing fees and other associated costs it’s far from 100% profit.

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

#102

Post by f6v »

bennysomething wrote: post #80
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 apple entitled to 30 percent of what any other business makes? Apple developed a platform and says to developers "pay is 30 percent to use it" sounds fair to me. Huge streaming service comes along "I want to use you platform but not pay the fee". How is that remotely fair? No one is making Spotify use it. What right has any one or any company got to demand special treatment. Many other app developers are fine…

People pretend that for-profit entities are supposed to build platform as a public good. When in fact corporations are incentivized by the market to be a monopoly.

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

#103

Post by swiley »

paulcole wrote: post #28

HN when government does something they like about tech: This was a no-brainer. HN when government does something they dislike about tech: Tech is too complex for government to understand.

Apple has effectively become a psuedo government by dictating what software is legal.

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

#104

Post by endisneigh »

kryptiskt wrote: post #93
endisneigh wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t Spotify benefiting from Apple devices? If not, then they can simply not be on Apple devices right? If they are benefiting, then is it unacceptable for them to pay for the benefit?

Is Apple benefiting from selling in the EU? If they want to benefit from Europe, they got to obey the rules.

I agree completely, but for now they are following the rules. I’ll be happy to see the EU ban percentage based fees and make all platforms open.

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

#105

Post by newbie578 »

Great to hear this! Another win for the EU. Finally someone defends the right of the developers, and at least tries to put a stop to Apple and it's hug of death.

Microsoft had the same issues, and it is only natural and fair Apple goes through the same process.

The only thing that puzzles my brain is the people here STILL defending Apple and it's monopoly practices by implying everything is a free choice.

If I offer you only two choices, you don't really have a lot of "free choices".

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

#106

Post by endisneigh »

ahiknsr wrote: post #67
endisneigh wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A. This market is a duopoly so there is limited opportunity to vote with your wallet. This was not always the case. What’s stopping a competitor from defeating both Apple and Google? Windows Mobile had a peak market share of about 42%, higher than what Apple has in the EU. My response to B is the same to A. Regarding C what is an acceptable percentage - how did you come up with that number? Apple has been pretty tr…

> Apple has been pretty transparent about the rules I disagree. Apple doesn't let App developers to inform users about the 30% tax. How is that transparent?

It does, though

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/11/apple-announces-app-s...

It’s not a secret at all, lol.

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

#107

Post by Macha »

f6v wrote: post #81
thayne wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But I think the key here, and probably a big reason Spotify went after Apple and not Google, is that on iOS you have to use Apple's app store. You can't distribute your app using your own infrastructure, or an alternative app store even if you want to.

You also don’t have to buy a subscription in the app, do you? You can pay on the web directly to Spotify and use the subscription in the app.

A fact Spotify is not allowed inform you of, and is not allowed make the only way to buy a subscription

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

#108

Post by ahiknsr »

f6v wrote: post #81
thayne wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But I think the key here, and probably a big reason Spotify went after Apple and not Google, is that on iOS you have to use Apple's app store. You can't distribute your app using your own infrastructure, or an alternative app store even if you want to.

You also don’t have to buy a subscription in the app, do you? You can pay on the web directly to Spotify and use the subscription in the app.

> You also don’t have to buy a subscription in the app, do you? You can pay on the web directly to Spotify and use the subscription in the app.

Apple doesn't allow App developers to Inform users about Alternate payment options.

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

#109

Post by endisneigh »

swiley wrote: post #91
endisneigh wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What percentage is acceptable to you? Perhaps all percentage based transactions are rent seeking and should be made illegal. I’m on board.

I don't care if Apple takes 90% I'm just tired of them telling people what software they're allowed to run. It makes everyone miserable even if they don't use the iPhone.

How does apple’s decisions affect non iOS users?

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

#110

Post by seszett »

f6v wrote: post #81
thayne wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But I think the key here, and probably a big reason Spotify went after Apple and not Google, is that on iOS you have to use Apple's app store. You can't distribute your app using your own infrastructure, or an alternative app store even if you want to.

You also don’t have to buy a subscription in the app, do you? You can pay on the web directly to Spotify and use the subscription in the app.

Spotify is forbidden to mention it in their app, though.
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