Apple’s App Store fee for all in-app purchases has now got leading media publishers probing a cut in the charges to 15% from the accustomed 30%. It all started after Facebook criticized Apple for the anti-competitive and unfair App store policies that amount to a gaff of media companies. Apple takes a 30% fees of all app purchases and expects developers to use Apple’s payment systems to charge a fee for it as well (1).
After the July 29 hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, Digital Content Next (DCN), a trade organization representing over 75 media and news companies such as CBS, New York Times, and Washington Post. These companies have questioned Apple to transparently define the conditions that can make a developer eligible for a lower App Store charges of 15%, which currently applies to Amazon apps.
Several Companies Came Up with the Facts to Support Their Questions
In a letter, Jason Kint, CEO, Digital Content Next, asked Tim Cook, CEO, Apple, to clearly define the conditions that Amazon satisfied for its array so that DCN’s member companies will work on those conditions and get charged the same.
Epic Games earlier has filed two separate lawsuits against Apple and Google in US courts, as the fees charged by them are extortionate and result in unlawful domination in the market.
Spotify claims this gives Apple’s products like Apple Music an advantage over the rival music apps. Also, last week the most popular multiplayer game, Fortnite, was taken down from both Apple App store and Google after the game’s publisher allowed the users to pay directly through their website.
