Quote:
Originally Posted by MGlitch
AFAIK neither Google nor Apple denies the ability of the app developer to sell outside of the app. They also don't demand any % of sales not done within their app. If an app dev wants to get around the 30% Google and Apple are demanding, let them set up the infastructure to supply an always online server to register accounts, process payments, distribute tokens to the apps to grant the features purchased out of app, etc.
Why should Apple or Google not get a slice of the sales when they're the ones providing those services, along with the install bases they both offer. They provide a service to the app devs, and ask to be paid for it. Imagine asking to be paid for a service you provide. As stated, the devs have the options. So to do consumers though it's based on what the devs do.
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Do you honestly think Amazon, Kobo, etc. don't already have their own online infrastructure and ways to process payments? Literally all Apple/Google Play offers is some app downloads they could do. Does it make sense to take 30% for that? Especially when it's not even necessarily wanted but forced?
Apple doesn't even allow most to get away with the "reader" exemption as it was basically made to keep Amazon, Spotify and Netflix on the platform and many services are forced to either have free services, IAPs through Apple or subs through Apple and now Google is doing the same.
As for what anti-trust laws, this is likely an essential facilities thing but IANAL. It's pretty clearly anticompetitive rent seeking anyways and I don't think platform holders should be allowed to cripple competitors on price and functionality because of their made up rules.