EU says Apple’s App Store breaks competition rules after Spotify complaint • Hacker News Board

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

#821

Post by LaMarseillaise » Tue, May 04, 2021, 6:55 PM UTC

w0m wrote: post #817

LaMarseillaise wrote: post #525

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Now they have an unfair advantage since Spotify must pay 30% to apple while apple music "pays" 0%. I think this does not account for the opportunity cost. If Apple Music competes with Spotify, then Apple Music implicitly pays the 30% fee of the next best alternative. If Spotify operates at a loss with the fee, and Apple Music is otherwise an identical business, then Apple should prefer Spotify - it makes more money…

That ignores the 'operate at a loss to kill competition then jack up prices/lower quality' strategy that the EU is directly trying to fight here. It's a common trope; Monopolies are great for the consumer; until they aren't held accountable.

Imagine that Apple charges a 0% fee. They could still undercut the pricing of Spotify, using their vast resources, and accomplish the same.

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

#822

Post by jVinc » Wed, May 05, 2021, 8:59 PM UTC

gcthomas wrote: post #294

jVinc wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Just think about it: one company is in practice entitled to 30% of what any other business makes (in any industry)!! This seems to be the case for all markets. I don't really see myself winning a case against wallmart if I complain they want a markup on sales of my product and that they are misusing their "monopoly" on "wallmart shelf space" by not allowing me decide to put my products in their store without their…

Walmart is competing openly with the store down the street. If I have a iPhone I can't use another store — it is a lock-in.

Walmart isn't competing openly though. They have a 100% monopoly on wallmart shelf space. Target is a different platform down the street sure, but that's like Apple vs. Samsung. You can't get the Apple app store on a Samsung, and you can't get the android appstore on an iPhone. But Target can't put products on wallmarts shelves and wallmart can't put products on targets shelves.

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

#823

Post by nicky0 » Thu, May 06, 2021, 1:01 PM UTC

kevingadd wrote: post #644

nicky0 wrote: post #579

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your flat fee model would really suck for free apps.

There's already a flat fee for free apps (the developer fees), and every customer has already paid a flat fee (buying the phone)

We are talking about a flat fee per app delivery here.

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

#824

Post by bzzzt » Fri, May 07, 2021, 3:46 PM UTC

gambiting wrote: post #819

breakfastduck wrote: post #818

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's pretty clear that the average person isn't actually aware of how invasive the data collection is, and their OS provider putting safeguards on the most common devices (phones) is a good thing imo. If you want a general purpose computer, buy one. An iPhone isn't for that.

Well, again, the discussion isn't about an iPhone being a general purpose computer or not. It's about what happens if two sides want to engage in an otherwise completely legal business transaction(company A making apps for iOS and wanting to sell them to person B), and Apple saying "no, actually, we need to give you permission before you can do business together, and actually we'll have 30% cut from that thanks". Tha…

If you want to go the bad car analogy route: it's as if a company was making Mercedes car mats using the Mercedes logo and being surprised they have to pay a fee to sell them via the Mercedes dealer network.

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

#825

Post by charwalker » Fri, May 07, 2021, 11:20 PM UTC

shuckles wrote: post #512

charwalker wrote: post #508

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple Pay IS Apple. In app purchases are also subject to their % cut.

I think you don’t understand what you’re talking about. If I buy a kiddie pool from the Shopify app with Apple Pay, it is not subject to the App Store in-app purchase terms. Similarly, if I book a massage through Yelp and it supported Apple Pay, there would be no App Store fee. Apple’s cut is for digital goods whose consumption is facilitated through your app.

In app purchases from the Apple store are subject to the cut to Apple. Apple pay is separate and though the consumer does not pay the transaction cost (Like VISA/etc), Apple is still taking a cut.

> Apple currently takes a 30% commission from the total price of paid apps and in-app purchases from the App Store. For some small app makers, the new policy could cut the amount that they pay Apple in half.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/18/apple-will-cut-app-store-fee...