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Facebook takes advantage of the Apple - Fortnite battle to criticize the 30% commission charged by the App Store

2020-08-15T16:34:06.151Z


Mark Zuckerberg's company released a statement: "Affects small and medium-sized businesses."08/15/2020 - 10:51 Clarín.com Technology The social network Facebook joined the criticism against Apple that was replicated in the last hours from various fronts of the technology industry for its policy of charging a commission of up to 30% of the sales made through its virtual store App Store. In a post on its official blog, Facebook regretted that Apple refused to waive the app's new paid liv...


08/15/2020 - 10:51

  • Clarín.com
  • Technology

The social network Facebook joined the criticism against Apple that was replicated in the last hours from various fronts of the technology industry for its policy of charging a commission of up to 30% of the sales made through its virtual store App Store.

In a post on its official blog, Facebook regretted that Apple refused to waive the app's new paid live events functionality, which the company promotes as a way to help small businesses that are suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.

"We asked Apple to reduce its commission of 30% so that we could absorb all the costs of businesses that are having difficulties due to Covid. Unfortunately, they did not accept our request and therefore small and medium-sized companies will only receive 70% of the income that they cost so much to earn, "they indicated from the company that Mark Zuckerberg runs.

Unlike Apple , Google did accept to make an exception for the new Facebook service in its virtual store for Android Google Play, so that companies that use the service through Android will charge 100% of what they pay each client.

The issue is not minor for the company directed by Tim Cook because it is precisely the reason why it is in the dock along with Google, Amazon and also Facebook, investigated for monopolistic practices : they accuse it of charging excessive commissions. 

Facebook thus becomes the largest technology company to openly criticize this Apple policy, hours after Spotify and Match (owner of Tinder) did the same, and the US video game developer Epic Games filed a lawsuitagainst the Cupertino firm.

On Thursday, Epic Games, creator of the popular Fortnite video game, announced that from now on it would allow players to make accessory purchases within the application itself, outside of the App Store.

Fortnite, from Epic Games, exposed the problem of Apple's commissions AFP photo

This goes against the policy imposed by Apple in its digital store, since if a user purchases accessories for the video game directly through its application, the firm directed by Tim Cook does not charge the 30% commission that is taken for all transactions that occur through the App Store.

Just hours after Epic Games revealed that it was going to allow in-app purchases, Apple responded by removing it from the App Store (a risky move considering Fortnite's huge popularity and high number of players). what the developer filed the lawsuit.

Apple, along with Facebook, Google and Amazon, is in the crosshairs of several investigations against monopolistic practices in the US, and the App Store is precisely the most delicate aspect of their entire business in this regard.

The Apple - Epic Games fight could be a key precedent

The Apple App Store charges a 30% commission and for many it is abusive. AP Photo

A new battle originated on Thursday of this week between two heavyweights of the digital entertainment industry. After they decided to implement their own direct payment method to bypass Apple's conditions, the company led by Tim Cook deliberately decided to expel the popular Fortnite video game from the iOS store , thus rendering it ineffective on one billion devices worldwide. .

As revealed this Thursday by the site The Verge , abusive practices and a 30% commission on all purchases made in iOS applications, with certain exceptions to 15% , were the trigger for this conflict between Epic Games and Apple. This figure (abusive for many) was even repudiated by companies such as Spotify and Netflix.

The trigger was triggered this Thursday when Fortnite implemented its own payment method in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The company that owns the iPhone was the first to respond to this "act of rebellion" , although now it remains to be seen if its rival in the cell phone market decides to act in the same way.

"That Apple has withdrawn Fortnite from the App Store is another example of its abuse of power to impose unreasonable limits and illegally maintain its monopoly on the market for processing payments within the applications in iOS operating systems ," they said from Epic Games in a statement.

Epic Games has been doing a strong job with its own Game Store. Reuters photo

For its part, Apple defends itself by claiming that its internal policy creates an environment of equality for all developers and at the same time "protects" customers against possible fraud or illegal content.

"Epic enabled a feature in their app that was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to all developers who sell digital goods or services, "a company source confessed to The Verge.

According to The Verge, Apple acknowledged that they will seek to resolve these rule violations with Epic Games, although there is no intention of reaching a special agreement in the case of Fortnite.

With information from EFE

PJB

Source: clarin

All tech articles on 2020-08-15

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