This is a big can of worms that will crush online buyers and companies. If Apple is required to allow companies to use their platforms to promote products that they don’t profit from without their consent, any company with a product offered online can demand that ability. Like Walmart partnering with brands to promote their lower prices on Target’s website. That’s just a dumb idea. There will be a lot of handwringing because this opens up their physical stores to a similar scenario.
Don't be daft, this ruling is explicitly about a digital gatekeeper imposing a petty rule, nothing at all to do with Walmart and Target who don't even operate in the EU.
I have to say I agree that Apple’s ban on any mention of purchases or accounts outside the App Store does harm Apple users.
As an Apple user wouldn’t you want to know if there is a cheaper option available before making an in-app purchase? I know I do!
No, the responsibility for due diligence is in the hands of you the individual. It is not up to an individual store anywhere ask you are you sure five times and then also say you can get it cheaper someplace else the responsibility is in the hands of you the customer upfront it’s your job, not the store.
I have to say I agree that Apple’s ban on any mention of purchases or accounts outside the App Store does harm Apple users.
As an Apple user wouldn’t you want to know if there is a cheaper option available before making an in-app purchase? I know I do!
No, the responsibility for due diligence is in the hands of you the individual. It is not up to an individual store anywhere ask you are you sure five times and then also say you can get it cheaper someplace else the responsibility is in the hands of you the customer upfront it’s your job, not the store.
It’s nice that you feel that way. Apparently, many others trying to do business on the App Store seem to feel strongly about trying to compete with Apple, who don’t have to pay 30% off their income, and refuse to let them steer customers to a site where the financial conditions are less stringent.
Lawmakers, and those in charge of enforcing antitrust regulations, may well come to a different conclusion than you have. We‘ll see.
I have to say I agree that Apple’s ban on any mention of purchases or accounts outside the App Store does harm Apple users.
As an Apple user wouldn’t you want to know if there is a cheaper option available before making an in-app purchase? I know I do!
No, the responsibility for due diligence is in the hands of you the individual. It is not up to an individual store anywhere ask you are you sure five times and then also say you can get it cheaper someplace else the responsibility is in the hands of you the customer upfront it’s your job, not the store.
It’s nice that you feel that way. Apparently, many others trying to do business on the App Store seem to feel strongly about trying to compete with Apple, who don’t have to pay 30% off their income, and refuse to let them steer customers to a site where the financial conditions are less stringent.
Lawmakers, and those in charge of enforcing antitrust regulations, may well come to a different conclusion than you have. We‘ll see.
But.... but.... but... why isn't it .... Apple that is trying to compete with Spotify? In the music streaming business, Spotify would be the "gatekeeper". Spotify got the "first mover" advantage by being in the business more than 8 years before Apple Music. Spotify have over twice as many paying subscribers than Apple Music or Amazon Music Unlimited. And more paying subscribers than Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited combined. (the next two largest music streaming services)
Isn't competition and choice good for the consumers? Here Apple (and Amazon) are not only competing but offering consumer more choices. Isn't competition is what drives Spotify to innovate? Isn't competition that's driving Spotify to go into Pod Casting? Otherwise, without competition, Spotify becomes a monopoly with he ability to raise prices as they see fit, with no motive to offer better services to their customers. Why aren't you on Apple side with this matter, as having Apple Music is good for the consumers?
Then we have this interview with Ek (the CEO of Spotify) at the time of Apple Music launched (8 years ago).
>The conversation with the small group of reporters on hand quickly
shifted to the launch of Apple Music and the perceived threat it may
pose to Spotify’s long-term viability.
To the contrary, said Ek, “Apple has validated the thing we said 10
years ago, which is that the world is moving to streaming.” Moreover, he
views Apple’s launch of a streaming service as lending further credence
to his assessment that owning music through downloading is becoming
less and less important to a wider subset of consumers.
Either way, Ek pointedly noted that Apple Music has been a boon to
Spotify, having added new users at a faster clip since it launched back
in June. “We keep setting new records week to week,” he said, without
specifying any numbers. “It’s getting easier and easier to sign people
up.”<
So in the 10 years before Apple Music, Spotify manage to get 20M paying subscribers but in the 8 years after Apple Music launched, Spotify paying members shot up to the over 180M they have today. (To put in perspective, Apple got 80M paying subscribers since the launch of Apple Music 8 years ago, while in the same 8 years, Spotify gained over 160M new paying subscribers). And if we were to believe the CEO of Spotify, he has Apple to thank for that. The same CEO that is claiming Apple as being anti-competitive when competing with Spotify.
This (Ek claim) would never fly in the US because here in the US, unlike in the EU, one has to prove actual harm in order to claim anti-competitive behavior. (And for sure, the consumers have not been harmed. Not with more competition and more choices. Right?) But with a nanny-state government like the EU, they will go out of their way to calm their own crybaby businesses, before it turns into a temper tantrum.
Then maybe Ek claims against Apple goes back to this ....
Comments
To the contrary, said Ek, “Apple has validated the thing we said 10 years ago, which is that the world is moving to streaming.” Moreover, he views Apple’s launch of a streaming service as lending further credence to his assessment that owning music through downloading is becoming less and less important to a wider subset of consumers.
Either way, Ek pointedly noted that Apple Music has been a boon to Spotify, having added new users at a faster clip since it launched back in June. “We keep setting new records week to week,” he said, without specifying any numbers. “It’s getting easier and easier to sign people up.”<