App Store developers are frustrated by Apple’s practices. Targeted from all sides, the apple brand must face new regulatory challenges.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court rejected the requests from Apple and Epic Games in the case relating to App Store practices. A decision which forced the Cupertino company to modify the policy of its American application store, to authorize developers to promote payment alternatives. It will, however, continue to charge a 27% commission on transactions. A rate which drops to 12% for small developers. Currently, Apple earns 30% (or 15% for lower incomes) on all in-app purchases.
A new policy scandalous »
This announcement angered Apple’s opponents. Tim Sweeney, head of Epic Games, said he would contest this decision “ dishonest » in federal court. The new policy kills price competition », according to him, by preventing developers from offering in-app purchases at a lower price.
Same story with Spotify, which has been opposing App Store practices for several years. Apple « will stop at nothing to protect the profits it makes on the backs of developers and consumers as part of its app monopoly », denounces Jeanne Moran, spokesperson for the Swedish giant. Recent measures are “ scandalous », she continues, and urges regulators to prevent them from being applied within the European Union.
There Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), a group founded in 2020 against the app store monopoly of Apple and Google, also spoke out. Its executive director, Rick VanMeter, regrets an approach that “ will not benefit developers or consumers “.
The App Store is targeted by regulators around the world
This is not the first time that the Apple brand has been forced to implement such measures within the App Store. Authorities also forced her to do so in the Netherlands and South Korea. However, the new policy has not fully satisfied regulators, as Apple continues to charge a fee for third-party payments.
The App Store is more than ever in the crosshairs of antitrust authorities. Considered as an access controller within the framework of European legislation on digital markets (DMA), the platform must comply with strict rules to guarantee their opening to competition. Apple has also reportedly decided to split its App Store in two to better prepare for regulation.
In the United States, the Department of Justice is, for its part, on the verge of prosecuting the Californian giant for anti-competitive practices.
Source : The Verge
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