Apple App Store: Difference between revisions

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~~''I started writing this 6 months ago~~ and ~~didn't really finish it~~. ~~Feel free~~ to ~~use it as a starting point for~~ an ~~article. Hopefully it's not too technical~~.''

Apple uses several technical measures to protect their App Store ecosystem and prevent consumer choice. They are good at obscuring their intentions with technical roadblocks, while typically citing security reasons for them - assuming the public even recognizes what is going on. This actively hurts the ability for lawmakers to have an accurate understanding, so they can consider applying legislative pressure.

~~Writing down some anti~~-~~consumer standards~~ Apple ~~has~~, ~~which in my opinion aren~~'~~t getting~~ the ~~coverage~~ they ~~deserve from lawmakers~~. ~~Apple~~ is ~~good at obscuring their intentions~~ with ~~technical roadblocks~~, ~~typically citing security reasons~~, ~~or just hoping nobody notices or asks in the first place~~.

A never-ending demand for a cut of every sale of a digital product, ranging from game currency, to supporting content creators,<ref> https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business<ref> https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/14/21369169/facebook-paid-live-events-ios-android-apple-app-store-fees-fortnite-epic</ref>, hurts the ability for app developers to innovate. These developers, working hard and pulling countless hours to build a quality app, always need to take Apple's (and [[Google]]'s) demands into account - specifically, between 15% and 30% of their revenue. This is revenue that can be reinvested into the app, but instead must be earmarked for the platform they are '''required''' to use to reach their customers.

Because this is a clear problem, several countries, including South Korea, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, as well as a handful of US states, have considered or have already passed legislation to force "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers.

This being a major threat to Apple's revenue stream (interestingly, one they claim to be unsure is profitable<ref>https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/</ref><ref>https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/</ref>), they have responded with practices such as geoblocking certain operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using existing, trusted terms to describe unreasonably difficult to use systems.

== Background info ==

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-''I started writing this 6 months ago and didn't really finish it. Feel free to use it as a starting point for an article. Hopefully it's not too technical.''
+Apple uses several technical measures to protect their App Store ecosystem and prevent consumer choice. They are good at obscuring their intentions with technical roadblocks, while typically citing security reasons for them - assuming the public even recognizes what is going on. This actively hurts the ability for lawmakers to have an accurate understanding, so they can consider applying legislative pressure.
-Writing down some anti-consumer standards Apple has, which in my opinion aren't getting the coverage they deserve from lawmakers. Apple is good at obscuring their intentions with technical roadblocks, typically citing security reasons, or just hoping nobody notices or asks in the first place.
+A never-ending demand for a cut of every sale of a digital product, ranging from game currency, to supporting content creators,<ref> https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business<ref> https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/14/21369169/facebook-paid-live-events-ios-android-apple-app-store-fees-fortnite-epic</ref>, hurts the ability for app developers to innovate. These developers, working hard and pulling countless hours to build a quality app, always need to take Apple's (and [[Google]]'s) demands into account - specifically, between 15% and 30% of their revenue. This is revenue that can be reinvested into the app, but instead must be earmarked for the platform they are '''required''' to use to reach their customers.
+Because this is a clear problem, several countries, including South Korea, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, as well as a handful of US states,<!-- TODO: Receipts for each country + states --> have considered or have already passed legislation to force "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers.
+This being a major threat to Apple's revenue stream (interestingly, one they claim to be unsure is profitable<ref>https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/</ref><ref>https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/</ref>), they have responded with practices such as geoblocking certain operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using existing, trusted terms to describe unreasonably difficult to use systems.
 == Background info ==