[vericiab]

After reading the actual submission by Apple that the article links to, I think the article (especially the title) somewhat misrepresents what Apple said.

The overview section of Apple's submission states (numbering in original)

> 1. Apple understands that the Commission has received submissions from certain app developers concerning their ability to engage with Apple in the app review process.

> 2. As outlined in our meeting of 23 February 2021, Apple is surprised to hear that developers have legitimate concerns about their ability to engage with Apple in the app review process in circumstances where the purpose of app review is to ensure the quality of apps on the App Store and Apple invests significant time and resources in engaging with developers directly to work together to achieve that shared goal.

> 3. Apple would therefore like to provide further information to the Commission to assist it in assessing the veracity of the concerns raised by developers in their submissions.

Personally I would paraphrase that not as Apple claiming to be "surprised" by developer concerns, but rather as Apple claiming to be surprised by "legitimate" developer concerns. Or to put a finer point on it, that Apple isn't actually claiming to be surprised at all and "surprised to hear" is just a euphemistic way to say that they don't believe the complaints the commission has received are legitimate.

Probably a smart choice of wording on Apple's part - I don't think it would have been a better look if the headline had instead been "Apple Suggests That Developers’ Complaints Are Just Sour Grapes".

[chris_wot]

Then perhaps Apple should make submissions to the ACCC in a less passive-aggressive manner.