Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#1

Post by jrepinc » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:26 PM UTC

Apple vs. the "Free Market"
pluralistic.net

Re: Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#2

Post by AlexandrB » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:41 PM UTC

What's the conceptual difference between Apple charging 30% for Patreon subcribers vs. charging 30% for purchases on Temu or the Amazon app? This distinction seems completely arbitrary to me. I suspect the only reason it exists is that adding a 30% Apple surcharge to every Amazon purchase would cause too much outrage.

Disclaimer:

I've never used Temu or the Amazon app, but I'm assuming they don't apply a 30% surcharge on physical goods on iOS.

Re: Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#3

Post by Doches » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:42 PM UTC

This article reads like an uneducated rant in so, so many ways. Apple rolling over its sleep and squashing Patreon isn't 'enshittification', it's just textbook monopoly abuse. And if you want to rail about the nuance of Apple's business practices you can at least not typo the name of two of their flagship products ("Iphone and Ipad").

> The fact that it's a felony to get your Iphone apps from anyone except Apple means that whatever policies Apple makes for the app store have the force of law.

The EC and US DOJ would like a word, please.

Re: Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#4

Post by brigadier132 » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:43 PM UTC

Apple's product is its users. All of the privacy changes are not to protect the privacy of their users, it's to ensure that there are no ways to access Apple device users without Apple being the middleman.

Re: Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#5

Post by Doches » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:44 PM UTC

AlexandrB wrote: post #2

What's the conceptual difference between Apple charging 30% for Patreon subcribers vs. charging 30% for purchases on Temu or the Amazon app? This distinction seems completely arbitrary to me. I suspect the only reason it exists is that adding a 30% Apple surcharge to every Amazon purchase would cause too much outrage. Disclaimer: I've never used Temu or the Amazon app, but I'm assuming they don't apply a 30% surcharg…

App Store policy (written or otherwise? It's hard to say.) only levies the 30% on digital goods delivered in the app. Uber, for example, doesn't pay 30% of rider fees to Apple.

Patreon is in this weird gray area because you kinda-sorta are getting digital goods delivered via the Patreon app, depending on how you look at it. And obviously if there's a way that Apple can squint and say it falls under their purview, they will...

Re: Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#6

Post by AlexandrB » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:44 PM UTC

Doches wrote: post #3

This article reads like an uneducated rant in so, so many ways. Apple rolling over its sleep and squashing Patreon isn't 'enshittification', it's just textbook monopoly abuse. And if you want to rail about the nuance of Apple's business practices you can at least not typo the name of two of their flagship products ("Iphone and Ipad"). > The fact that it's a felony to get your Iphone apps from anyone except Apple mean…

> you can at least not typo the name of two of their flagship products ("Iphone and Ipad")

Why not? Are we all beholden to the Apple marketing department style guide?

Re: Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#7

Post by brigadier132 » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:45 PM UTC

AlexandrB wrote: post #2

What's the conceptual difference between Apple charging 30% for Patreon subcribers vs. charging 30% for purchases on Temu or the Amazon app? This distinction seems completely arbitrary to me. I suspect the only reason it exists is that adding a 30% Apple surcharge to every Amazon purchase would cause too much outrage. Disclaimer: I've never used Temu or the Amazon app, but I'm assuming they don't apply a 30% surcharg…

> What's the conceptual difference between Apple charging 30% for Patreon subcribers vs. charging 30% for purchases on Temu or the Amazon app?

I can name more than 1 competitor to Amazon.

Re: Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#8

Post by brookst » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:45 PM UTC

[flagged]

Re: Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#9

Post by AlexandrB » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:49 PM UTC

brigadier132 wrote: post #7

AlexandrB wrote: post #2

What's the conceptual difference between Apple charging 30% for Patreon subcribers vs. charging 30% for purchases on Temu or the Amazon app? This distinction seems completely arbitrary to me. I suspect the only reason it exists is that adding a 30% Apple surcharge to every Amazon purchase would cause too much outrage. Disclaimer: I've never used Temu or the Amazon app, but I'm assuming they don't apply a 30% surcharg…

> What's the conceptual difference between Apple charging 30% for Patreon subcribers vs. charging 30% for purchases on Temu or the Amazon app? I can name more than 1 competitor to Amazon.

Of course, but I don't use shopping apps so I don't know who does or does not have an app. Temu just comes to mind because of their dismal reputation and obnoxious marketing.

Re: Apple vs. the "Free Market"

#10

Post by n4r9 » Thu, Aug 15, 2024, 1:49 PM UTC

Doches wrote: post #3

This article reads like an uneducated rant in so, so many ways. Apple rolling over its sleep and squashing Patreon isn't 'enshittification', it's just textbook monopoly abuse. And if you want to rail about the nuance of Apple's business practices you can at least not typo the name of two of their flagship products ("Iphone and Ipad"). > The fact that it's a felony to get your Iphone apps from anyone except Apple mean…

> Apple rolling over its sleep and squashing Patreon isn't 'enshittification', it's just textbook monopoly abuse.

Isn't it both? Enshittification is a form of monopoly abuse in my mind.

Also note that you're arguing against the person who coined the term "enshittification".