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Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

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Re: Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

#2
It would be trivial for the admin to say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, and trivial for Apple to implement it. There's little to gain from blocking wechat in china, so I don't think they will cut in their own flesh.

Unless there are ways (via VPN etc) to temporarily switch a phone to the Chinese appstore and install wechat for a US phone this way.

Re: Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

#3
post #2

It would be trivial for the admin to say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, and trivial for Apple to implement it. There's little to gain from blocking wechat in china, so I don't think they will cut in their own flesh. Unless there are ways (via VPN etc) to temporarily switch a phone to the Chinese appstore and install wechat for a US phone this way.

Would it be legal for American companies to ignore American laws on foreign land? It doesn't sound plausible

Re: Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

#4
post #2

It would be trivial for the admin to say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, and trivial for Apple to implement it. There's little to gain from blocking wechat in china, so I don't think they will cut in their own flesh. Unless there are ways (via VPN etc) to temporarily switch a phone to the Chinese appstore and install wechat for a US phone this way.

Would it be legal for American companies to ignore American laws on foreign land? It doesn't sound plausible

Can't you set up some sort of foreign subsidiary to do it for you? Apple already uses this model for storing icloud data in china, to comply with chinese laws.

Re: Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

#5
post #2

It would be trivial for the admin to say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, and trivial for Apple to implement it. There's little to gain from blocking wechat in china, so I don't think they will cut in their own flesh. Unless there are ways (via VPN etc) to temporarily switch a phone to the Chinese appstore and install wechat for a US phone this way.

While the administration could say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, it's not what they have done and they have not indicated that they want to go that way; the currently announced prohibition, as far as I understand, would prohibit Apple to support WeChat anywhere no matter if it allows installing WeChat for a US phone this way or not.

Re: Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

#6
post #2

It would be trivial for the admin to say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, and trivial for Apple to implement it. There's little to gain from blocking wechat in china, so I don't think they will cut in their own flesh. Unless there are ways (via VPN etc) to temporarily switch a phone to the Chinese appstore and install wechat for a US phone this way.

Would it be legal for American companies to ignore American laws on foreign land? It doesn't sound plausible

I am willing to bet the App Store is an Ireland based entity with contracts back to Apple to provide service aka generate expenses for Apple's US entity. That way Apple can book all the app store revenue in Ireland.

Re: Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

#7
post #5
post #2

It would be trivial for the admin to say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, and trivial for Apple to implement it. There's little to gain from blocking wechat in china, so I don't think they will cut in their own flesh. Unless there are ways (via VPN etc) to temporarily switch a phone to the Chinese appstore and install wechat for a US phone this way.

While the administration could say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, it's not what they have done and they have not indicated that they want to go that way; the currently announced prohibition, as far as I understand, would prohibit Apple to support WeChat anywhere no matter if it allows installing WeChat for a US phone this way or not.

... because the current admin is not exactly in the habit of thinking ahead. I see no reason they intentionally want to hurt the goose laying golden eggs. I’d be happy to learn valid reasons why though.

Re: Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

#8
post #5
post #2

It would be trivial for the admin to say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, and trivial for Apple to implement it. There's little to gain from blocking wechat in china, so I don't think they will cut in their own flesh. Unless there are ways (via VPN etc) to temporarily switch a phone to the Chinese appstore and install wechat for a US phone this way.

While the administration could say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, it's not what they have done and they have not indicated that they want to go that way; the currently announced prohibition, as far as I understand, would prohibit Apple to support WeChat anywhere no matter if it allows installing WeChat for a US phone this way or not.

The administration doesn’t have the constitutional authority to make such a demand.

Re: Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

#9
post #2

It would be trivial for the admin to say that Apple only has to block wechat from the US app store, and trivial for Apple to implement it. There's little to gain from blocking wechat in china, so I don't think they will cut in their own flesh. Unless there are ways (via VPN etc) to temporarily switch a phone to the Chinese appstore and install wechat for a US phone this way.

Would it be legal for American companies to ignore American laws on foreign land? It doesn't sound plausible

A presidential order is not a law, and if unconstitutional like this one, never has to be obeyed anywhere.

Re: Trump's WeChat ban threatens Apple's smartphone sales in China

#10
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would it be legal for American companies to ignore American laws on foreign land? It doesn't sound plausible

I am willing to bet the App Store is an Ireland based entity with contracts back to Apple to provide service aka generate expenses for Apple's US entity. That way Apple can book all the app store revenue in Ireland.

I am willing to bet you don’t understand US corporate tax laws and accounting rules.
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