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Dutch App Store change complies with law, says Apple, as antitrust regulator rejects proposal

Dutch App Store change complies with law, says Apple

Apple has written a letter arguing that the change it has offered in the Dutch App Store complies with the law, despite that fact that the antitrust regulator has rejected the proposal as ‘not serious.’

The latest development follows the European Union suggesting that Apple was happy to pay fines rather than properly comply with antitrust rules …

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Apple doesn’t care about Dutch antitrust fines, says EU competition regulator

Apple doesn't care about Dutch antitrust fines

Apple doesn’t care about the fact that it is regularly being fined €5M ($5.7M) by Dutch antitrust regulators, and would rather pay the fines than comply with the law, it is claimed.

The accusation was leveled by the European Union’s competition regulator Margrethe Vestager, after Apple was fined for the fifth time …

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App Store payment alternative attracts developers with over $1 billion in volume before policy even set

apple store developers

After Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in the Epic v. Apple case that the Cupertino company must allow App Store devs to redirect users to other payment systems last year, Paddle announced what it called the industry’s “first alternative in-App Purchasing system for iOS.”

Even though Apple hasn’t changed App Store policies in these past five months, Paddle’s CEO is now saying the company signed up 1,500 developers with over $1 billion in volume for his rival payment system.

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Popular ‘Authenticator’ app for iOS facing copycats, as App Store review complaints continue

Apple settles lawsuit with developer who exposed multi-million dollar App Store scam

Update, Feb 22: Apple removed Authenticator’s copycat apps from the App Store.

Another day, another complaint about the App Store review process. This time, 2FA app Authenticator by 2Stable is facing copycats from multiple scammers. Not only the app is being copied, but scammers are charging subscriptions up to $335/year if you forget to cancel the weekly in-app purchases, raising questions about Apple’s long-flawed App Store review process.

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Coinbase App Store policy shows disproportionate power held by Apple

Coinbase App Store policy

A description of the Coinbase App Store policy makes very clear the disproportionate power Apple holds over the tech sector, argues a new piece today.

The company’s CEO says that whatever Apple wants, it gets – which doesn’t exactly help Apple’s antitrust argument that its App Store is simply one platform…

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Poll: Could sideloading iOS apps actually make things better rather than worse?

Sideloading iOS apps – would it make things better or worse

One of the biggest antitrust issues facing Apple has been around its monopoly on the iOS app market. One proposed solution has been to allow competing app stores, while another has been for Apple to allow sideloading of iOS apps in exactly the same way it does on Macs.

Apple argues that sideloading would be dangerous, opening up the iPhone to malware and scam apps – but Jason Snell has put forward an interesting argument that it could make iOS apps better, rather than worse …

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Federal broadband administration adding to antitrust pressure on Apple’s App Store

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The new head of the federal broadband administration has revealed that part of his role will extend to reviewing competitiveness in the mobile app ecosystem, adding yet another source of antitrust pressure to Apple’s App Store.

This reflects an executive order from President Biden stating that ‘it is the policy of my Administration to enforce the antitrust laws to combat the excessive concentration of industry, the abuses of market power, and the harmful effects of monopoly’…

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Apple hit with Valentine’s Day fine of $5.6M over Dutch dating app regulations

App Store dating apps dutch watchdog

Apple has been hit with its fourth fine of $5.6 million for failing to comply with new App Store payment regulations in the Netherlands. In a statement, the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets says that the “revised conditions that Apple has imposed on dating-app providers are unreasonable, and create an unnecessary barrier.”

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Developers react to 27% commission with astonishment and anger

Developers react to 27% commission with astonishment and anger

Developers reacted with astonishment and anger at Apple’s 27% commission policy as a minimal form of compliance with a new antitrust law regarding the App Store.

One leading developer described the move as ‘vile,’ while another said Apple is deliberately ensuring it would cost developers more to opt-out of Apple’s payment system than it would to remain within it …

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Korea still not satisfied with Apple’s App Store plans; wants more than 4% commission saving

Korea still not satisfied with Apple's App Store plans

South Korea has stated that it is still not satisfied with Apple’s App Store plans to comply with a new antitrust law requiring developers to be able to choose third-party payment platforms.

The regulator has also expressed concern at Google’s plans, which include just a 4% reduction in the company’s app store commission if a developer uses a different payment processor …

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After sparring with Apple, Fanhouse adopts in-app purchases on iOS with 50% higher prices

Fanhouse is a platform for creators that competes with OnlyFans as it lets users post photos and videos (SFW only) that can only be viewed by those who pay a monthly subscription. After criticizing App Store fees last year, Fanhouse is now raising subscription prices by 50% for iOS users as a way to cover Apple’s commission.

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Hold my iBeer: This virtual booze app topped the App Store, then came the hangover

ibeer

Fifteen years ago, Apple announced the original iPhone. The concept of apps wasn’t clear at the time, and many people thought they were better off jailbreaking their new smartphones to unlock their potential. When the App Store launched, a developer created iBeer, a way to drink alcohol from your iPhone without getting the hangover. Here’s the story about the success and forgetfulness of the app.

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Apple’s plans for third-party App Store payments are insufficient, Dutch regulator says

App Store dating apps dutch watchdog

In response to new regulatory pressures, Apple announced earlier this month that it would allow developers of dating applications in the Netherlands to use alternative payment systems. The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets has now published its own press release, saying that Apple’s announcement “fails to satisfy” the requirement set forth by the competition commission.

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