this post was submitted on 13 May 2024

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Bloomberg - Apple Says No Major App Developers Accept New Outside Payments (www.bloomberg.com)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

According to Apple, only 38 developers have applied to add such links — out of roughly 65,000 that could.

all 18 comments

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[–] [email protected] 107 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The reason: Apple will charge a 27% fee to developers who want to use the link entitlement program — and when combined with payment processing fees, the total is even more than the 30% the App Store has taken for itself for years, the judge was told at the hearing in Oakland, California.

Motherfuckers.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

Apple is fascist.

[–] [email protected] 65 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The funny thing is: This will work against them regarding the EU DMA regulations. If no one uses their offer it will not be interpreted as nobody wants to use it, but instead it will be interpreted as the offer was unfair.

[–] [email protected] 48 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

Apple is used to North American courts who are paid by everyone to always interpret laws on the corporation's favor. This experience is new to them, actual logic and common sense in a court of law.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago

Apple are well aware of EU laws. Just ask the Irish treasurer....

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Wait are you suggesting apple doesn't have the legal staff to be aware of regional concerns/practices?

[+] [email protected] 17 points 6 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

[deleted]

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

I'm not saying it's not an issue, my point is apple has access to the highest talent and legal advice. There's no way they are unaware of the realities.

We can be sure they employ European law staff themselves.

Conclusion being their actions are attempts to move the window on these types of law. They are aware of the existing status quo, but are driving to advance it to their own ends.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Which is worse, because it implies malice.

But never the less, this tactic would work perfectly in a US court. It probably won't as EU courts don't make decisions based on the judge's feefees like US courts, and precedent and case law mean nothing in European civil law systems.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I never applied a value judgement.

The suggestion that European courts are universally free from manipulation, political meddling or influence is a fairytale. They are leagues better than US courts in this regard, but again we can be sure a megacorp like apple is pulling every lever at their disposal

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

I agree but that has no bearing on my first comment. Common law and civil law are two fundamentally different systems. And Apple seems to always operate as if they're dealing with a US court, being petty and throwing tamtruns, trying to cheat and weasel their way out. Sure the European courts have their share of corruption, but Apple doesn't seem to have found said levers yet.

Mega corporations aren't magical all powerful infallible entities either. They're just a bunch of entitled twats with too much money. They're no better at making decisions as the average Joe.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

we can be sure a megacorp like apple is pulling every lever at their disposal

Sure. But as far as I can tell the only lever at their disposal is to drag their feet and try to delay compliance as long as possible.

It's an effective strategy, but it's stupid. They're making a lot of people angry and that is never a good long term strategy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

As far as you're aware yes. I've met some of these people (not at apple, but at another megacorp) and there is a whole world of manipulation and dealmaking that never hits the papers

[–] [email protected] 59 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If this is not fined at €10 billion Euro or more, Apple will continue their shenanigans for every European judgement in the future.
This is so obviously a bad faith attempt.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

If the EU finds apple guilty of "systematic" non-compliance, which will happen if they "continue their shenanigans for every judgement", then the DMA doesn't call for a fine. It calls for a TikTok style forced sale. Apple could be ordered to sell the iPhone to another company or face an outright ban in the EU.

Of course that's assuming the EU has the balls to actually enforce their own laws knowing full well the transatlantic political consequences.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Leaving anything else aside, I’d be really surprised if there was any EU entity that could afford to buy iPhone in its entirety in Europe - or at least not one for whom it makes sense to do it.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Seems like Apple’s convoluted guidelines around external payment systems is working out for them.

E: added link to said guidelines.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago

I can’t read the article, but I ain’t surprised by the fact that no one wants to pay more than what Apple is already billing.

They are clearly trying to circumvent the rules just like the bad company they are.

Still I have to admit that their hardware and software is quite good even if I ain’t a fan.