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Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

reuters.com

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Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#21

Post by looping8 »

immibis wrote: post #19
supermatt wrote: post #5

That third party app stores are subject to review by apple is a problem in itself.

It's Apple blatantly violating the Digital Markets Act, because it thinks it is above the law (and to be fair, in the USA, it is). The EU has acknowledged this and is currently preparing a truly massive punishment for Apple. Apple, being unaccustomed to having rules apply to it, seems to be ignoring this.

Apple will not react until it is punished, I think. Too big to be scared but also too big to notice that it’s actually in danger.

Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#22

Post by nottorp »

supermatt wrote: post #5

That third party app stores are subject to review by apple is a problem in itself.

That the only way to get applications on your phone is going through Apple, or a gatekeeper approved by apple, is a problem in itself too.

That the first "app store" approved is built on predatory free to play gaming money is also a problem.

Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#23

Post by MHard »

looping8 wrote: post #21
immibis wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's Apple blatantly violating the Digital Markets Act, because it thinks it is above the law (and to be fair, in the USA, it is). The EU has acknowledged this and is currently preparing a truly massive punishment for Apple. Apple, being unaccustomed to having rules apply to it, seems to be ignoring this.

Apple will not react until it is punished, I think. Too big to be scared but also too big to notice that it’s actually in danger.

I think it's more likely that while the punishment might be significant it will be more profitable to continue as long as possible violating the law or at least pushing the boundaries as much as possible instead of proactively being compliant.

After a court order they will know exactly where the limits are and tiptoe them as much as possible. If they proactively try to be "overcompliant" they might loose more money in the long run.

It's messed up to be honest. I would prefer harsher punishments, but on the other hand if companies are scared all the time it might have a chilling economic effect so there is a balance to strike as well.

Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#24

Post by lozenge »

AnonC wrote: post #17
deutschepost wrote: post #2

Although this is good news, Epic will still have to pay Apples Core Technology Fee. For most developers this will be a deal breaker, because it also applies to free software which most of the time is only supported by donations.

> For most developers this will be a deal breaker, because it also applies to free software which most of the time is only supported by donations If the app is taking donations or any sort of payment, then the Core Technology Fee applies after 1 million first installs in a year. If it’s a completely free app, this fee does not apply. This fee also does not apply for educational institutions, nonprofits, and governmen…

What about free as in beer software which includes some ads?

Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#25

Post by holoduke »

Whats the difference between mobsters owning a city , demanding money from all shops and Apple? There is none. Leadership at Apple is no different. Criminals who need be charged with jail penalties. Only then things will change. Will that ever happen? No. Governments are more or less controlled by lobbyists representing the same evil companies.

Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#26

Post by rambambram »

cafed00d wrote: post #14
troupo wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what infuriates me about this discourse. "Do you want Apple to continue to develop stuff and just provide it to developers for free?". iPhone sales alone are 3x Apple's entire R&D spend. And developers pay more than fair share of that because they need at least two devices (an iPhone and a Mac) if they want to develop anything, and a yearly fee. Apple doesn't just double dip. It triple dips, and wants to quadr…

Why can’t a business be built solely without giving Apple a dime? The web is free — as in freedom and as in gratis. It has a developer tools system funded by hundreds of companies, developers and community members. There’s hardly any order of dipping, if any. Why doesn’t the web compete away Apple’s “dips”?

The web is more than good enough. There's just a lot of people drinking the kool-aid and believing big tech's subtle and not so subtle messages about the web being shite. Of course the web is shite on devices from companies that compete with the web. They actively undermine it.

Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#27

Post by hk__2 »

lozenge wrote: post #24
AnonC wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> For most developers this will be a deal breaker, because it also applies to free software which most of the time is only supported by donations If the app is taking donations or any sort of payment, then the Core Technology Fee applies after 1 million first installs in a year. If it’s a completely free app, this fee does not apply. This fee also does not apply for educational institutions, nonprofits, and governmen…

What about free as in beer software which includes some ads?

This doesn't count as "completely free":

> Apple provides many conditions where developers do not pay the CTF: […] Developers that earn no revenue whatsoever. This includes offering a free app without monetization of any kind (physical, digital, advertising, or otherwise).

(from the link above)

Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#28

Post by Unbefleckt »

nottorp wrote: post #22
supermatt wrote: post #5

That third party app stores are subject to review by apple is a problem in itself.

That the only way to get applications on your phone is going through Apple, or a gatekeeper approved by apple, is a problem in itself too. That the first "app store" approved is built on predatory free to play gaming money is also a problem.

[flagged]

Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#29

Post by tgv »

supermatt wrote: post #5

That third party app stores are subject to review by apple is a problem in itself.

"It's absurd that apps are subject to review by Apple. I know what I'm doing. I've thoroughly inspected the source code of this app that I want to install."

Not even the most brilliant hacker can say so. In other words: I don't agree. Users are dumb, and need to protected from harm. I don't want the Windows virus disaster all over again, especially because this time the stakes are considerably higher.

You can disagree with the fees, but for the rest my opinion is: live with the pain.

Re: Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe

#30

Post by hk__2 »

holoduke wrote: post #25

Whats the difference between mobsters owning a city , demanding money from all shops and Apple? There is none. Leadership at Apple is no different. Criminals who need be charged with jail penalties. Only then things will change. Will that ever happen? No. Governments are more or less controlled by lobbyists representing the same evil companies.

> Whats the difference between mobsters owning a city , demanding money from all shops and Apple?

Apple produces and sells the device. Without Apple, you wouldn’t be able to build these apps; whereas the shops would exist without the mobsters.

(not trying to defend Apple, just answering the question)

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