In a bold move against Apple’s App Store transformation, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney intensifies the battle, criticizing the changes as an “anticompetitive scheme rife with junk fees.” Sweeney, a vocal opponent, alleges these alterations violate the Digital Market Act and sees Apple’s policies as both illegal and malicious. Key points include a new commission structure and the introduction of “Junk Fees” like the Core Technology Fee, sparking a clash that unveils legal complexities and hints at future disclosures.
Apple recently made significant changes to its App Store policies to comply with the EU’s Digital Market Act. A key part of this shift is Apple’s newfound support for alternative app stores in Europe, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from none other than Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney.
Sweeney didn’t waste any time expressing his dissatisfaction, calling the changes an “anticompetitive scheme rife with junk fees” in a post on his X account. In simpler terms, he believes Apple is making it difficult for other app stores to compete, and he’s not happy about it.
According to Sweeney, these changes go against the Digital Market Act, as Apple is now giving developers two options: stick to the traditional 15/30% commission or choose what Sweeney calls an “also-illegal anticompetitive scheme rife with new Junk Fees and new taxes on payments they don’t process.”
Let’s break down what this means. The term “Junk Fees” refers to a new commission structure, introducing a Core Technology Fee (CTF). It’s like a toll booth for apps – charging €0.50 per app instance downloaded annually, but only if the app is popular with over a million downloads a year. And here’s the catch – this fee also applies to any alternative app store each time a user downloads from there.
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Now, about the “new taxes on payments they don’t process” – this seems to be related to Apple’s reduced commission rate of 17% for App Store sales and an extra 3% off for In-App Purchases. If you use another payment system, Apple won’t take any commission. But this move is what Sweeney calls a “new tax” because it’s essentially a fee on transactions that Apple isn’t handling.
Despite these challenges, Sweeney remains determined to launch the Epic Games Store on iOS and Android. The catch here is that Apple still gets to decide whether they’ll allow the Epic Games Store on their platforms, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to Epic’s plans.
Sweeney wraps up his post by hinting at more revelations to come, calling Apple’s announcements “hot garbage” and suggesting there’s more to be revealed. This leaves us wondering what other surprises Apple might have in store.
The clash between Epic Games and Apple over these App Store changes is not just about two big players. It’s a bigger story about who controls the app market and what’s fair. As this battle intensifies, its effects will likely ripple through the tech industry, reshaping how apps are distributed and challenging the dominance of established app store models.
In this news piece, we’ve dug into the conflicting views, legal complexities, and potential future developments in the ongoing saga between Epic Games and Apple. The battle for control and fairness in the digital marketplace is heating up, and the implications could reshape the way we all experience and access apps.
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