Apple keeps App Store rules for now

Apple’s current App Store rules will continue to stand, as its case with Fortnite maker Epic Games heads to the Supreme Court — meaning developers won’t be able to redirect customers to their own payment systems anytime soon. TechCrunch Reporter Sarah Perez writes: The two tech giants have been battling over Apple’s requirement to use its in-app payments system, its commission structure, as well as its alleged monopolistic practices — something the lower courts?found not to be the case. Epic had asked that the federal appeals court’s most recent decision would stand while the case was argued at the nation’s highest court, but that request has now been denied. If granted, Apple would have been forced to allow App Store apps the option to offer their own links or buttons to non-Apple payment systems, effectively permitting developers to circumvent Apple’s 15% to 30% commissions on purchases and subscriptions. Find out more here on the Supreme Court's decision ?? https://lnkd.in/g-WeDmcr

Apple is intentionally exposing users to all the things it is claiming this will prevent, and they are doing it for significantly higher profit margins. I can prove this with 5 well known examples or more. If Epic games is smart, they will call on developers like myself, and many others, to refute Apple’s completely bogus claim, which does nothing to protect people, and only ensures, their mafioso style operation of the App Store remains intact. This only further proves, that judges are not equipped to handle these issues, without the support of developers to advise them, which is not happening, as they are ruling, based on incomplete data, and ruling in favor, of the company who’s phone is in their pocket, and which has miles of compromising information on them. This is the definition of compromised, and it’s Apple, who has them compromised, not the devs they claim to be protecting people from. This continues to make a mockery of our legal system, and is hurting the hard working, underpaid, and regularly abused workers, who Apple is working to replace with AI, or force them to work for them, by stealing and stripping away all their assets and value. When companies use our legal system, to proliferate their monopoly, it’s time to go. #wearebetterthanthis #epicgames

????Well, this is disappointing and a bit surprising, (but not that surprising) considering the fact that a federal appeals court ruled otherwise. Good on Epic Games though for rejecting the status-quo. ?? What Do you think about Apple taking 30% of developer revenue??? https://lnkd.in/ePs9Ws9y

NEW - US Supreme Court refuses Epic bid to let App Store order take effect in Apple case The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to let a federal judge's injunction take effect that could force Apple to change payment practices in its lucrative App Store, in a legal fight with Epic Games. ?? Justice Elena Kagan denied a request by Epic, maker of the popular video game "Fortnite," to lift a decision by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that that effectively delayed implementing U.S. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers' injunction barring certain App Store rules while Apple pursues a Supreme Court appeal. The 9th Circuit in April had upheld the injunction but in July put that decision on hold.

Leaders of the House Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce recently sent a letter to Apple asking if the App Store is limiting emerging technologies like blockchain and NFTs. The short answer is: Yes. The Apple App store does not allow NFT ownership to unlock features within apps on App Store. Why? Apple charges a 30% fee for in app purchases. If, instead, in app purchases were allowed to be on-chain transactions, "transaction fees" become gas fees and Apple would have to become a validator like anyone else to participate in sharing the cost to transact. I think gaming will continue to embrace blockchain technology and Apple will eventually change their app store policy, but only time will tell.

In the name of privacy, Apple will soon be requiring app developers to explain why they're using certain APIs. This is all part of Apple's continued effort to push the privacy envelope by eliminating PI and device IDs from "leaking" into the broader supply-chain. I think we can all appreciate the inconvenience that many app developers will be facing as a result. I can hear their push-back and accusations of unfair business practices. But frankly, I view this all as whining to preserve a way of doing business that fundamentally needs to change. Technology advances in the last decade have made it cheaper and easier than ever to collect and abuse personal data. There has never been a time in history when more commercial entities have more personal data. These practices are on a collision course with increasing negative consumer reaction to the abuse of their data, which sparked privacy regulations that have been rolling out across our country and the world. We've got to embrace a far more private -- and respectful -- future of digital media, applications and advertising. Sure, Apple is using its weight and global install-base to push their privacy agenda. And certainly Apple is doing this because being known for privacy helps their brand and sales. All these arguments are valid. But what too many complainers are missing is that Apple's privacy-centric approach is working for them because privacy is actually what people want. The rest of us should take a cue from Apple and fall in line with the more private future of everything digital. Resistance is futile. #Apple #Privacy #Data #Developers