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0 pointsbombcar2y ago0 comments

This is what it comes down to, at the root.

Apple made a decision early on to "give away" the ability to write and distribute (the $100 fee is nothing) apps for their store, and only take payment from payment received. So you have tons of free apps that just exist on Apple's code and infrastructure, with no cost to the companies.

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shaan72y ago

Yes, if the developers want to use Apple's App Store, they should pay for it, that is not the problem. The problem is that developers are forced to use Apple's App Store instead of another distribution platform. But now Apple is saying "Its okay if you want to use another distribution platform, but you still need to pay us". Why is that okay? (And no, an iPhone itself is not Apple's platform, once the user buys the phone, its their platform).

bombcarOP2y ago

It may not be what we want, but it’s entirely within current restrictions - Apple is treating the phone as a console, not as a computer.

Vespasian2y ago

I guess we will see whether the European regulator and courts agree

I suspect they won't because the DMA pretty explicitly doesn't.

kj992y ago

Once the user buys the phone, they own the physical device, but that’s not all they are receiving. They also receive software and services. They don’t own those - they have a license for them.

matwood2y ago

I think what many people are missing and you're pointing out is that this is a licensing issue. It's no different from Unreal Engine taking a 5% cut of every game sold or Sony taking a cut of all PS games. Developing using iOS libraries and tools requires developers to accept the licensing terms put forward by Apple. There is a lot of precedence for Apple's terms and they are better than most others.

If this is an issue we want to address, then we need software/ip licensing in general to be changed.

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merlindru2y ago

Right, but the software and services prevent you from using the physical device however you want

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shaan72y ago

bombcarOP2y ago

It may not be what we want, but it’s entirely within current restrictions - Apple is treating the phone as a console, not as a computer.

Vespasian2y ago

I guess we will see whether the European regulator and courts agree

I suspect they won't because the DMA pretty explicitly doesn't.

kj992y ago

Once the user buys the phone, they own the physical device, but that’s not all they are receiving. They also receive software and services. They don’t own those - they have a license for them.

matwood2y ago

If this is an issue we want to address, then we need software/ip licensing in general to be changed.

1 more reply

merlindru2y ago

Right, but the software and services prevent you from using the physical device however you want

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse