French newspapers team up for leverage in negotiations with Apple
Eight of France's most powerful newspapers and magazines have teamed up in hopes of gaining leverage in negotiations with Apple over the iPad maker's 30 percent cut of App Store sales.
The group of French publications are said to have joined together and begun negotiating with Apple as a collective, according to Reuters. The participating parties include newspaper Le Figaro, sports daily L'Equipe, business daily Les Echos and news weekly le Nouvel Observateur.
The participating parties reportedly plan to keep their publications from Apple's Newsstand application, which will be a part of the forthcoming iOS 5 software update. Newsstand will sell newspapers and magazines much like Apple sells e-books through its iBookstore for the iPad and iPhone.
Though the French publications are usually "fierce competitors," they have put aside their differences and come together to take on Apple, a company that the head of new media of Le Figaro said is "infinitely powerful."
Disputes between Apple and publishers over content on the iPad have persisted since the touchscreen tablet first went on sale in 2010. Most significantly, a subscription disagreement led international business paper the Financial Times to pull its application from the iPhone and iPad App Store.
Rather than comply with Apple's rules for the App Store, the Financial Times opted to create an HTML5-optimized version of its website. That allows readers to continue to view the publication in the iPad's Safari Web browser without the need for a native application.
Apple oversees all content that is available for download on the App Store, and also takes a 30 percent cut of all transactions that take place. That policy applies to paid applications, as well as in-app purchases and recurring subscriptions.
The group of French publications are said to have joined together and begun negotiating with Apple as a collective, according to Reuters. The participating parties include newspaper Le Figaro, sports daily L'Equipe, business daily Les Echos and news weekly le Nouvel Observateur.
The participating parties reportedly plan to keep their publications from Apple's Newsstand application, which will be a part of the forthcoming iOS 5 software update. Newsstand will sell newspapers and magazines much like Apple sells e-books through its iBookstore for the iPad and iPhone.
Though the French publications are usually "fierce competitors," they have put aside their differences and come together to take on Apple, a company that the head of new media of Le Figaro said is "infinitely powerful."
Disputes between Apple and publishers over content on the iPad have persisted since the touchscreen tablet first went on sale in 2010. Most significantly, a subscription disagreement led international business paper the Financial Times to pull its application from the iPhone and iPad App Store.
Rather than comply with Apple's rules for the App Store, the Financial Times opted to create an HTML5-optimized version of its website. That allows readers to continue to view the publication in the iPad's Safari Web browser without the need for a native application.
Apple oversees all content that is available for download on the App Store, and also takes a 30 percent cut of all transactions that take place. That policy applies to paid applications, as well as in-app purchases and recurring subscriptions.
Comments
Reuters doesn't mention it either. Strange, no?
Maybe because it is ePresse, which released an iPad app a couple of weeks ago. What's their answer to Apple" Giving away PDF versions of the print newspaper.
I don't see Apple shaking in their boots over free PDFs.
Rather than comply with Apple's rules for the App Store, the Financial Times opted to create an HTML5-optimized version of its website. That allows readers to continue to view the publication in the iPad's Safari Web browser without the need for a native application.
I usually hate iOS formatted websites. They almost always suck and they often prevent you from breaking out of the crappy design and visiting the real website. It is particularly aggravating that you can't zoom on those types of sites. Companies should just optimize their regular web site for viewing on iOS devices rather than squeeze you into such a dumbed down design. Mostly a problem with iPhone. They usually don't auto detect the iPad for that purpose.
Are they going on strike like the peasants do all the time over there if the price of their apples is to low.
So, eight French newspapers think they're going to accomplish in negotiations with Apple what the entire magazine publishing industry has already failed to do? Ooooookaaaaay.
Uh, actually it's not "the entire magazine publishing industry" because if it were these guys would be included in that.
What happened before was just with the USA magazines which is far, far, far from the whole industry.
In any case this is just the same old story we've already seen. They will argue about it. A few (well it's France so probably a lot), of politicians who have their hands in the publishers pockets will be outraged. Apple will threaten to close up shop in France if they don't like it, and then they will cave-in.
Those that think they can get away with it will join the Apple store, those that don't will move to HTML magazine formats. Done.
So, eight French newspapers think they're going to accomplish in negotiations with Apple what the entire magazine publishing industry has already failed to do? Ooooookaaaaay.
Apple can't continue this extortion forever.
What are they going to do about it when Apple says Non?
Are they going on strike like the peasants do all the time over there if the price of their apples is to low.
Surrendering is always an option.
What happened before was just with the USA magazines which is far, far, far from the whole industry.
Sure, but still far, far, far more than eight French newspapers. Regardless of my omission of a qualifier like "a large portion of the" or "the American magazine publishing industry", my point still stands.
Apple can't continue this extortion forever.
The real problem for the publishing industry is that Microsoft has already said that they will emulate Apple's 30% rule in their own app store. That leaves Google only charging 10%, which they are doing to try to undercut Apple and grow the Android tablet business. And as we all know, that's not working too well.
Apple can't continue this extortion forever.
It's not "extortion." There are plenty of online dictionaries that are terrific (and free!) that can help out.
Uh, actually it's not "the entire magazine publishing industry" because if it were these guys would be included in that.
What happened before was just with the USA magazines which is far, far, far from the whole industry.
In any case this is just the same old story we've already seen. They will argue about it. A few (well it's France so probably a lot), of politicians who have their hands in the publishers pockets will be outraged. Apple will threaten to close up shop in France if they don't like it, and then they will cave-in.
Those that think they can get away with it will join the Apple store, those that don't will move to HTML magazine formats. Done.
Wow, just wow. Apples success has gone straight to your head. Your 100% insane to think Apple is bigger then the country of France.
Try this out for size.
France will threaten anti competitive hearings against Apple. As a leading Euro zone country and policy maker and also basically in control of the IMF - Apple will shit their pants and comply with whatever it is France wants - or effectively be kicked out of Europe.
You don't think a few rulings in Samsungs/Nokias/Googles etc... favor over patent and trade disputes will be an effective negotiation tool?
Get your head out of your pompous American ass bro.
Apple watched Microsoft get their asses handed to them by the same people. I don't think they want that.
Thanks for the good laugh thou.
Apple > France...
Wow, just wow. Apples success has gone straight to your head. Your 100% insane to think Apple is bigger then the country of France.
Try this out for size.
France will threaten anti competitive hearings against Apple. As a leading Euro zone country and policy maker and also basically in control of the IMF - Apple will shit their pants and comply with whatever it is France wants - or effectively be kicked out of Europe.
You don't think a few rulings in Samsungs/Nokias/Googles etc... favor over patent and trade disputes will be an effective negotiation tool?
Get your head out of your pompous American ass bro.
Apple watched Microsoft get their asses handed to them by the same people. I don't think they want that.
Thanks for the good laugh thou.
Apple > France...
LOL, Apple will know it's a bluff and the French govenmeant will not do anything because Apple is not breaking any laws. Beyond that, your view of what the French govenmeant would do is too funny. The US govenmeant will complain to the German govenmeant and the Germans will tell the French to behave and that will be an end to the matter.
Apple can't continue this extortion forever.
Are you just the latest in a long line of Tekstud aliases?
Wouldn't this be collusion?
Perhaps not in France.
Apple can't continue this extortion forever.
Extortion ? Let's see ... Apple says you can ride on the train we built, and sell your wares as long as you follow our company policies and the price of your ticket is 30% of your take .. same deal as everyone else onboard. Is the 30% a problem for you? What would you deem as fair compensation (and why) ...15%, 5%, 0%... to the company whose expensive-to-create-and-maintain innovations efficiently expand your newspaper readership from inside a country no one gives a rat poop about, to covering the entire world? There's no undue pressure to sign on and nothing illegal going on plus there's no financial risk since, if no one wants to read your paper, you owe 30% of nothing. Where's the extortion?
bandwidth
iTunes store employees
marketing
some profit
honestly this isn't much... The magazines can charge more if they want more...
30% goes towards:
bandwidth
iTunes store employees
marketing
some profit
honestly this isn't much... The magazines can charge more if they want more...
The biggest chunk is the payment portion. That is worth 5-7% right there. (No, it only costs them 3%, but the value it provides is higher.)
LOL, Apple will know it's a bluff and the French govenmeant will not do anything because Apple is not breaking any laws. Beyond that, your view of what the French govenmeant would do is too funny. The US govenmeant will complain to the German govenmeant and the Germans will tell the French to behave and that will be an end to the matter.
Satire is truly dead in America.
or do you really believe that Apple is greater then world governments?
my... god... the horror Americans are about to face.