Apple on Tuesday found itself the target of a 785-million-pound ($1 billion) class action lawsuit brought by more than 1,500 apps developers in the UK over its App Store fees.
That’s still only 0.034% of its market cap, it would simply be a slap on the wrist even if they lose.
Not a lawyer, but I suspect where Apple could land in hot water is apparently 85% of iPhone App developers are only paying $100 per year. They don’t pay any commission to Apple at all, because the apps collect revenue via some other source.
So Apple is essentially singling out 15% of developers and forcing them to pay a extraordinarily more than what most of their competitors are paying.
I expect it will also hurt Apple’s case they are directly competing with millions of developers. You want to sell a note taking app? You’re competing directly with Apple. And Apple has various unfair advantages.
So Apple is essentially singling out 15% of developers and forcing them to pay a extraordinarily more than what most of their competitors are paying.
But that’s not true. And your response to this in the other comment chain was three paragraphs on sms rates. Seems like you believe somehow Apple is unique in this regard.
What’s not true? It is absolutely true that the majority of apps on the App Store don’t pay (or at least pay very little). And it’s true that the ones that do pay are paying billions of dollars.
Antitrust law is all about ensuring competitors are on equal footing with each other. Apple’s walled garden makes equal footing impossible. Is it illegal? I don’t know. But I think it should be and I hope the laws are adjusted if necessary to make it illegal.
Fair competition is critical for a functioning economy. It’s fundamentally unfair that a select few app developers are forced to collectively pay billions of dollars in fees that nobody else has to pay.
Not a lawyer, but I suspect where Apple could land in hot water is apparently 85% of iPhone App developers are only paying $100 per year. They don’t pay any commission to Apple at all, because the apps collect revenue via some other source.
So Apple is essentially singling out 15% of developers and forcing them to pay a extraordinarily more than what most of their competitors are paying.
I expect it will also hurt Apple’s case they are directly competing with millions of developers. You want to sell a note taking app? You’re competing directly with Apple. And Apple has various unfair advantages.
But that’s not true. And your response to this in the other comment chain was three paragraphs on sms rates. Seems like you believe somehow Apple is unique in this regard.
What’s not true? It is absolutely true that the majority of apps on the App Store don’t pay (or at least pay very little). And it’s true that the ones that do pay are paying billions of dollars.
Antitrust law is all about ensuring competitors are on equal footing with each other. Apple’s walled garden makes equal footing impossible. Is it illegal? I don’t know. But I think it should be and I hope the laws are adjusted if necessary to make it illegal.
Fair competition is critical for a functioning economy. It’s fundamentally unfair that a select few app developers are forced to collectively pay billions of dollars in fees that nobody else has to pay.
Holy fuck another 3 paragraph essay. Maybe the part I fucking quoted
Trying again
You literally ignore every counterpoint and then inundate your responses with content that doesn’t apply. Try again.
More words != compelling argument or facts