Apple on Friday outlined their objections to allowing app developers to link to third-party payment options ahead of a hearing next month that could determine whether a judge’s antitrust court orders is put on pause during the appeal.
After a lengthy trial earlier this year brought by “Fortnite” creator Epic Games, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a ruling that was largely favorable to the iPhone maker and upheld its practice of requiring developers to use its in-app payment system, for which it charges commissions.
But Gonzalez Rogers expressed concern that consumers did not have access to information about other ways to pay for apps. She ordered Apple to stop its ban on “buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms” beyond Apple’s own payment systems.
Apple has until Dec. 9 to implement the order, but the company has appealed the ruling and asked the order to be put on hold while the appeal plays out, which could take a year or more. A hearing on the request is set for Nov. 9.
MacDailyNews Take: You know, because a judge forced Best Buy and Target to place signs next to each product in their stores that advertise lower prices for the same items at Walmart.
Oh wait, that didn’t happen. Because any judge who issued such a ludicrous order would be reversed on appeal amidst much ridicule.
If Apple’s appeal of Roger’s injunction somehow fails, developers like Epic Games who want to advertise lower prices using Apple’s App Store should simply be charged an in-store advertising fee by Apple. We suggest it be 15% of sales resulting from said ads for developers making under $1 million per year and 30% for those making $1 million or more annually. 🙂
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There is no other store silly… and you shouldn’t be forced to shop there.
Maybe that’s why the judge did what they did? Maybe?
Your take “You know, because a judge forced Best Buy and Target to place signs next to each product in their stores that advertise lower prices for the same items at Walmart.” would be brilliant if consumers had another store to buy apps from. There is no other store that sells the same item.
Epic Games can make a “store” of their own to sell Fortnite. Their problem is solved.
Best Buy, Target, Walmart… I see none of those stores founders let a limitation stop them. Instead of whining and going to court, they bought into the fruits of “evil” Capitalism and created their own and became a competitor to each.
Get to work Epic Games. First, you and your buddy can start your company in a garage. Might I suggest the city of Los Altos and 45 years later… Who knows?…
An iOS version of Forthnight? Or even a “Hello World” app? Do tell us how they can sell it in their own store when Apple blocks other stores.
Fortnite is a free download.
Epic Games sells modes and virtual items within Fortnite.
Fortnite wants to use Apple’s App Store to give away “free” games and then sell items within this “free” game without paying Apple anything.
And why would Apple be entitled to anything then? As you say the download isn’t happening from the Apple store. What entitles them? They don’t own the device, the App, or the add-on store.
They can (and have) completely disallowed Fortnight anyway, only proving abuse of iOS App monopoly.
“Fortnite wants to use Apple’s App Store to give away “free” games and then sell items within this “free” game without paying Apple anything.”
So you’re saying Epic Games is the “welfare class” amongst game makers
Epic Games and Apple are in litigation. You never know how, or agree with, what the courts will decide.
However, Epic Games still has the right to create their vision of everything Apple created and be their own boss when it comes to such things, which is all I am saying.
We don’t have one airline, we don’t have one auto manufacturer, we don’t have one fast food chain selling burgers… Epic can broaden their horizons and say screw Alphabet’s Google Play or Apple’s The App Store. It’s not an overnight thing to be sure, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities for Epic Games to do their own thing.
But we DO only have one iOS App store and all other iOS competitor stores are blocked by Apple.
Oh… and Trump did lose by over 7 million votes to Biden, and Hillary got 3 million more than him before that.
Public educated I surmise.
I said, start from a garage and over the next forty-five years…, but I guess I have to spell it out some more. Fort-five years of ‘hard work and innovation’ by Epic Games, they too can be Apple-like and wouldn’t need Apple of Cupertino, their iPhone, their iOS, and their App Store. How many times has MDN reminded us that Apple is not a monopoly because it has a smaller percentage marketshare of others in competition with them. With Apple completely out of the picture, Epic Games can set the path of their own future and the right to self-determination. Who knows, in the distant future, maybe Apple would be crawling to them?!
Voila, Epic Games has their own eco-sphere including their own version of iOS, iPhone, App Store, that Apple can’t block, otherwise, you wouldn’t have Samsung, Google, etc. and “we’ve patented the Hell out of it” – Steve Jobs, just means some lawsuits and possible payouts in the end.
If Epic Games can’t enjoin them, beat them!
Inbred elitist educated I surmise…? Or maybe not at all…?
Apple doesn’t own the device, or the third party App. They do own a monopoly store for iOS Apps, which they leverage in creating an “ecosystem”.
If they wanted to “own” the ecosystem they should lease the devices and have exclusivity deals with App developers, or buy the 3rd party code outright.
No garage needed.
The example in MDN’s take is flawed. The ‘ad’ redirecting consumers to pay for ‘add-ons’ (e.g. ink cartridges for the printer, anti-virus software for a pc, etc.) is not located outside the box/app but rather inside. Walmart, Target, Best Buy have no problem with this. MDN’s take would only be valid should the developer have the redirect link for payments in the app description area in the App Store.