…unless it means competition.
The latter, They’re making things up as they go along - but only as little as they have to.
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Apple Tweaks EU Core Technology Fee to Avoid Bankrupting Unexpectedly Viral Apps
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Mac application notarisation is also still optional. If you don't do it, the users of your application will get a big scary warning saying that they shouldn't run the application, but it can still be bypassed. That will not be possible on iOS, and you will have to pay Apple to get the notarisation done. And the fee for notarisation is completely separate from the Core Technology Fee.
Only for sales conducted in Amazon stores. Everything else is free from fees.
All similar models have received the exact same form of criticism. Apple is unique in having a single distribution pipeline. Not even consoles are that strict
That’s completely self inflicted by Apple. Nowhere in the regulations does it require Apple to implement an overly complicated process to install software and to collect a fee.
that's cos apple wants to make at as unappealing as possible as it can to keep devs from leaving their walled garden.
it's sad, but here we are. in some ways this could've been mostly avoided had the US had similar anti-competitive, anti-steering and anti-monopoly laws on the books years ago, but the app and gig economy we are in now, is largely due to US politics and lawmakers leaning back and not noticing where society was heading in general..
The same can be said about the EU, but at least they/we are finally getting out of the comforts of our couches and doing something about it. The reason the EU market is now so dominated by US big tech is also because of a lack of law-parity between the EU and the US, which helped American companies flourish here and corner the marked in some cases as well.
The vast majority of the developer base are small developers. For them, it’s much easier to succeed with the centralised App Store model, just compare it to the PC/Mac situation or the pre-iPhone era. Obviously it’s not the same for bigger companies like Epic or Spotify.
Restricting a user’s ability to use his device as he sees fit inherently stifles innovation. Not allowing developers to distribute software outside the app store, on their own dime, stifles innovation.
If everything has to be blessed by Apple, anything that threatens their bottom line is subject to rejection.
Seems like the Apple Developer Program fee covers the notarization of iOS apps.
Join the Apple Developer Program to reach customers around the world on the App Store for all Apple platforms. Membership provides the tools, resources, and support you need to develop and distribute apps and games, including access to app services, testing tools, app analytics, and more.
They’re welcoming innovation when it benefits their bottom line.
And they’re stifling innovation when it threatens their bottom line.
Sure but that’s not relevant to the DMA.
The only things the DMA does is giving developers the option to use other storefronts simultaneously as the uis AppStore.
So a small developer could have their app in the AppStore, on their homepage, in steam, Epic store, GoG, Altatore and itch.io etc etc at the same time.
If they have an app that isn’t approved by apple then they can distribute it somewhere else. Or if they have a smal app they just want to share without needing to pay 99€ a year etc just for the ability for others to use their app, then they can do that or not.
We’re talking about apps outside of the App Store.
These are the terms:
For developers who choose to agree to the new business terms, membership in the Apple Developer Program includes one million first annual installs per year for free for apps distributed from the App Store, Web Distribution, and/or alternative marketplaces.
So it doesn’t look like unlimited notarisation is included in the apple developer program.
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Apple is just a velociraptor testing the fences at this point.
Well the question is should developers even be required to join the developer agreement to distribute content in the first place.
Motorization can perhaps be a separate but not obligatory thing. Just how it works on Mac.
It is an improvement, but I still think there's a good chance that the CTF in its current form will not hold.
To be clear, I don't think there's anything in the DMA that prevents Apple from charging it, but exempting its own App Store from it (at least for developers that do not opt into the new terms) in my view is arguable an anticompetitive measure where Apple favours itself and disadvantages the competition.
To be clear, I don't think there's anything in the DMA that prevents Apple from charging it, but exempting its own App Store from it (at least for developers that do not opt into the new terms) in my view is arguable an anticompetitive measure where Apple favours itself and disadvantages the competition.
They’re literally trying everything except compliance with the law. It’s clear they’re constantly being told what they’re attempting isn’t going to work, but they keep trying anyway.
That’s part of the issue, the law is apparently not that clear since no one can pinpoint what compliance looks like.
This is absolutely ridiculous and literally discriminatory. Why should it matter to Apple how much money the app makes? It doesn’t change their costs. They’ve been providing this service for decades to everyone for the same $99 per year developer fee. Clearly it works. And the apps that are subject to this fee are not even being hosted by Apple or listed in the App Store. They cost Apple nothing.
Apple’s greed for services revenue is hurting the entire computer industry.
Apple’s greed for services revenue is hurting the entire computer industry.
macOS is an open platform and iOS is a closed platform. It's always been this way.
Sadly for us all that’s where companies make money now. Just look at profit margins on saas
The law is actually quite clear. The issue is Apple continuing to think it gets to dictate what and how people get software onto their devices.
Because they’re not free to do so. If anyone wants to do something on mobile, they must deal with Google AND Apple. They are literally gatekeepers. I’m not sure the EU’s methods are correct, but they are right about that.
Yes, punished for success and all that. But we have been through this before with railroads and oil companies and telecoms.
This is a good solution. If a developer makes a lot of money off of the Apple API and ecosystem they have to pay.
The DMA is not very specific, and the implementation is completely up to the appointed council. The EU actually does get to dictate what happens, and they are trying to take a lighter touch since their word is literally law.
Apple de facto DOES get to dictate what and how people get software on to iOS. Therein lies the balancing act.
I’m not sure either side is managing to come up with the best policies via this process.
No one here seems to know what the law states.
NOBODY is forcing you to pick either Google or Apple. On Android you can chose to use the open soruce android using the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) see: https://source.android.com/ and if you don't want android at all you can always make or use a Linux phone.
Sure you can't use the awesome platforms Apple and Google spent BILLIONS to develop. But that is up to you.
I think it's really strange that the EU can basically say: "Thank you, Apple / Google for developing iOS / Androd. BTW. we own your system now. And if you don't listen to us, we'll fine you."
It’s kind of clear with minimal room for interpretation. It’s just that most American companies seem to by unable to read EU law and fully clueless with European legal practices.
It’s mostly about the teleological reading of the law alongside the preamble to the legal text. And related regulations referenced in the text.