IAC CEO says Apple is 'worse' than Google, likely the next antitrust target
In the wake of a massive antitrust lawsuit against Google, IAC CEO Joey Levin says that Apple is "worse" than the search giant and will likely be the next major target for competition regulators.
Credit: WikiMedia Commons
Levin, whose company operates internet properties, says that U.S. attorneys general "got it right" with their lawsuit against Google. Speaking to CNBC Friday, Levin said that Apple could be in the crosshairs of the next big antitrust crackdown.
"Apple's next, and I think Apple is, in many senses, worse," Levin said. His company, IAC, operates firms that have apps on Apple's App Store
The Cupertino tech giant has "forced companies into the system," Levin said, adding that "they have a monopoly, there's no way around it. And the fees are exorbitant, and that flows through to everybody."
Back in May, Levin openly criticized Apple's 30% of app and in-app purchases on the App Store. He called the fee "disgusting," and also complained about an alleged "quasi-monopoly."
Apple has defended the fee, claiming that it's on par with what other marketplace operators charge. Google too charges a 30% cut, but its Google Play store is less restricted. Both Apple and Google have launched programs slashing the commission for smaller businesses.
Levin, however, praised the crackdown on Google and the potential for regulators to go after Apple next.
"I think the world could use competition. I think the world could use some regulations around the scale of these businesses now, there's a lot of power concentrated in very few hands," Levin said. "It'll be good for innovation, if they can get it right."
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
Credit: WikiMedia Commons
Levin, whose company operates internet properties, says that U.S. attorneys general "got it right" with their lawsuit against Google. Speaking to CNBC Friday, Levin said that Apple could be in the crosshairs of the next big antitrust crackdown.
"Apple's next, and I think Apple is, in many senses, worse," Levin said. His company, IAC, operates firms that have apps on Apple's App Store
The Cupertino tech giant has "forced companies into the system," Levin said, adding that "they have a monopoly, there's no way around it. And the fees are exorbitant, and that flows through to everybody."
Back in May, Levin openly criticized Apple's 30% of app and in-app purchases on the App Store. He called the fee "disgusting," and also complained about an alleged "quasi-monopoly."
Apple has defended the fee, claiming that it's on par with what other marketplace operators charge. Google too charges a 30% cut, but its Google Play store is less restricted. Both Apple and Google have launched programs slashing the commission for smaller businesses.
Levin, however, praised the crackdown on Google and the potential for regulators to go after Apple next.
"I think the world could use competition. I think the world could use some regulations around the scale of these businesses now, there's a lot of power concentrated in very few hands," Levin said. "It'll be good for innovation, if they can get it right."
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
Comments
Read his 'Bio'
https://www.iac.com/directors/joey-levin
A guy who has done nothing for anybody except run internet scams. Invented - nothing. Created - nothing but middlemen who feed of true inovators.
Ugh. Stupidity is contagious. Define a monopoly exactly and legally in how it applies to Apple, and only Apple apparently.
All the difference in the world !
his words:
”Apple is next”
Yeah, clearly a target because Apple is successful.
”And the fees are exorbitant”
Yeah, like Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft etc. Wait until he finds out how much his local grocer marks up products in THEIR store. But he won’t go after them because they aren’t “worse”.
Here's the question. Does he have his own app store on Android? Are his apps available on a third party app store on Android? Can Android users pay for and side load his apps from his own website?
If the answer is NO, to any of the above, then why should we believe that if third party app stores and side loading were available on iOS, he would no longer bitch about the 30% commission he would still need to pay with the Apple App Store?
This isn't about consumers choices and competition. He's bitching about the 30% commission. His only motive is to make more profit at Apple and Google expense. Like that crybaby Sweeney.
If he doesn't like Apple and Google rules with their app stores, then he can open his own app store on Android to avoid paying any commission and still have access to over 70% of the mobile device users. Until he try to do at least that, he has no excuse to complain about the 30% commission any app store charges. With Android, he doesn't even have to develop, maintain and support the platform. If he's not taking advantage of the features that Google have to offer, for him to avoid or at least reduce the commission he's has to pay on the sale of his apps on Android, then he has no right to complain about the commission he has to pay with the Apple App Store, on iOS. (Even if third party app stores and side loading are not allowed in iOS.)
However, if he wants make a profit from mobile device customers that have no desire to download apps from anywhere else, other than from the Apple App Store (on iOS) or Google Play Store (on Android), then he's going to have to pay for the access to those customers. Customers that would not exist if it weren't for the platforms developed by, maintained and improved upon, by Apple and Google.