[thrwn_frthr_awy]

> Apple continues to monopolize app distribution and in-app payment solutions for iPhones

Apple phones use Apple payment solutions and Apple's app store.

What is wrong with this?

[sfifs]

It is argued that this is an example of illegal tying arrangement to between the markets of "mobile phones", "app distribution" and "payment systems" given the market power Apple has. This space notably is the one where Apple had its loss in the District Court ruling.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/tying_arrangement#:~:text=An....

[ThatPlayer]

For a less legalese read, FTC's article on monopolistic tying: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/competition-guidance/guide-a...

[kmeisthax]

IMHO "the 30%" - the fact that you have to use Apple IAP when you ship on Apple's app store - isn't the problem with Apple's policies. It's just a convenient way to express that Apple has a lot of market power and is willing to wield it.

If Apple had a change of heart tomorrow and opened up app distribution, they probably would still charge 30% - because everyone does, even things like Steam which runs on platforms Valve doesn't own. However, that doesn't change the fact that Apple can gain competitive advantage over their own partners by utilizing their app distribution chokepoint.

[jimbob45]

Steam has competition though. Can you imagine if MS owned Steam and disallowed the Epic Launcher/Store on Windows? The Justice Department would be all over it.

[tomnipotent]

Steam's 30% was based in a time when brick and mortar accounted for the vast majority of sales, and publishers were lucky to keep 30%.

[zepto]

It’s not 30% for the vast majority of developers.

[xunn0026]

Apple should literally be broken up like Bell System.

[emptyparadise]

Along which lines? Hardware/Software/Services?