Worldwide App Store “riot”: the Netherlands resists

Apple wants to draw as much money as possible from app developers, but research from the Netherlands prevents this.

Apple and their App Store are not in the best position right now. Yes, it’s still the only “official” place to get apps from, but it’s been hard for major developers for a while in terms of revenue.

Income

Explained as simply as possible: Apple asks for a contribution of 30 percent (now 15 percent) of revenues generated through the App Store and its ability to complete payments. Where it gets annoying is that the prices have to be adjusted in such a way that the contribution to Apple still provides a little profit. It is also not allowed to draw your attention to other payment methods. Example: if you close Spotify Premium via the App Store, Spotify is not allowed to say “you can also close via the website”. Nowadays you can do this via email, but that is not ideal either.

Opposition ACM

Now, however, the measure is full. Note that Dutch research is now putting a stop to this ‘tax’. The main point is that there must be more clarity about payment methods outside the App Store. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) ensured that, under exceptional circumstances, the Netherlands will have a separate App Store where payment options are set up differently. This is because the payment methods in the App Store undermine the interests of dating app Tinder.

soap

It’s starting to look like a soap opera. Because even if it is now easier to make payments outside of Apple, the company would like to see that contribution. So developers in the App Store have to give money, even though the function has now been adjusted so that it no longer all goes through Apple. Otherwise, the company will lose revenue. Logical, but when it comes to making money, Apple naturally wants to do their best. How this ends will be continued.