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Google

Epic Isn't Satisfied by Google's App Store Billing Stunt 38

Posted by msmash from the tussle-continues dept.
Google announced on Wednesday that it would test letting Android developers use their own billing systems in their apps, the first step in what could lead to a dramatic reshaping of the app economy. However, Epic Games, which has been a strong proponent for opening app marketplaces and sued Google after the search giant removed Fortnite from Google Play for including direct payments, still isn't happy. From a report: It plans to continue advocating for an app ecosystem that offers more choices, according to a statement the company shared with The Verge. "Apple and Google continue to abuse their market power with policies that stifle innovation, inflate prices and reduce consumer choice," Corie Wright, Epic's VP of public policy, said in the statement. "One deal does not change the anticompetitive status quo. We will continue to fight for fair and open platforms for all developers and consumers and work with policymakers and regulators to hold these gatekeepers accountable for their anticompetitive conduct."
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Epic Isn't Satisfied by Google's App Store Billing Stunt More

Epic Isn't Satisfied by Google's App Store Billing Stunt

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  • why should Google get an commission for non hosted content?

    Like with games they are not hosting the game for free and 15-30% is way to high to just take an CC.

    • For the same reason that every retailer that sells stuff charges more than the wholesale price + CC fees.

      There is value to the manuf in being placed in the Google Store, they get more exposure than they would otherwise. That exposure translates to more sales and they get more money.

      • retail stores don't get an cut after sales service.
        Does ford get an cut of each toll , each car wash, each fill up , ect after the sale?
        Does best buy get an cut of your cable bill when you by an TV?
        Does comcast get an cut over each thing you buy on line?

        Also the Google Store makes dev's pay fees to be listed in it.

        • retail stores don't get an cut after sales service.
          Does ford get an cut of each toll , each car wash, each fill up , ect after the sale?
          Does best buy get an cut of your cable bill when you by an TV?
          Does comcast get an cut over each thing you buy on line?

          Also the Google Store makes dev's pay fees to be listed in it.

          Maybe not; but I would bet that, for example, GM gets a Commission on OnStar Subscriptions, and maybe car manufacturer's get a cut of SiriusXM Subscriptions for cars with factory-installed Infotainment Systems.

        • No. But actors and actresses (and their AGENTS) get a small âoeresidualâ payment every time a movie or re-run is aired *in perpetuity* after theyâ(TM)ve been paid for the role. This is not new idea. Californians probably invented it.

      • That's part of it, but not all of it.

        The lawsuits against both companies are about monopoly powers and illegal tying.

        If it was access to the store alone and nothing more, that would be just fine.

        Instead it is access to the store, AND access to external payments, AND post-sales payments. With Apple it is also access to the ecosystem generally. Tying them together is problematic at best, illegal at worst.

        We have all read the horror stories of companies getting their products removed because of automated s

      • Comment removed based on user account deletion

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Rhipf ( 525263 )

          If you paid for the DVD by giving money to Best Buy (who then sends money to Walmart) then yes they are entitled to take a cut of the purchase for their effort. You can argue that 30% is too much for that transaction but it would be hard to say that Best Buy isn't entitled to any compensation for facilitating the purchase.

          A better argument would have been:
          Is it right for Best Buy to mandate that I have to buy the DVD from Walmart using their portal to Walmart instead of just going directly to Walmart's port

  • Roles Reversed (Score:3)

    by MikeDataLink ( 536925 ) on Friday March 25, 2022 @01:59PM (#62389571) Homepage Journal

    Just because EPIC is the little victim right now, don't think for a minute this has anything to do with consumer protection.

    It's all about money. PERIOD.

    And if roles were reversed you can be damned sure EPIC would have done the same thing. And be defending it. These companies aren't fighting about you. No matter what they say.

    • > Just because EPIC is the little victim right now, don't think for a minute this has anything to do with consumer protection.
      > It's all about money. PERIOD.

      The price people pay is a consumer value.

      If a developer needs to charge X then Apple says "plus a third" then the consumer pays 1.33X.

      Now that Russia is taking Bitcoin for oil, prices are in for a wild ride, and there will absolutely be competition for the very fleeting consumer dollar. Because there won't be many available.

      Around here half of th

      • Around here half of the high school kids are taking the bus instead of driving now (and getting 1 hr less sleep). In-game purchases are going to fall off a cliff. RIP.

        So, like the same thing, for all time since buses and kids and school? Or did I miss the period in American History where every kid bought a car and drove to HS? I had a car in HS for 11th and 12th and even took the bus (OMFG!) on occasion.

        Is this a nonsensical exemplar of non-sense?

      • > Just because EPIC is the little victim right now, don't think for a minute this has anything to do with consumer protection.
        > It's all about money. PERIOD.

        The price people pay is a consumer value.

        If a developer needs to charge X then Apple says "plus a third" then the consumer pays 1.33X.

        Now that Russia is taking Bitcoin for oil, prices are in for a wild ride, and there will absolutely be competition for the very fleeting consumer dollar. Because there won't be many available.

        Around here half of the high school kids are taking the bus instead of driving now (and getting 1 hr less sleep). In-game purchases are going to fall off a cliff. RIP.

        Except it doesn't work that way.

        The Dev sets any price they want (there is some rule about prices >0 must end in.99), including zero, and Apple (and Google) take some amount (generally 15% to 30%) of that Price as a Commission. They also both take from 15-30% of In-App purchases.

    • That doesn't matter. Nobody is imagining that Epic is fighting for us. However, we still benefit if they win. Further, it sets a precedent that they themselves may have to follow in their own store someday, if anyone ever wants to distribute anything through it.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Tom ( 822 )

        However, we still benefit if they win.

        It's what you think.

        Someone in Epic is already planning on maximizing those profits into THEIR pockets instead of yours, I'm quite sure.

    • > And if roles were reversed you can be damned sure EPIC would have done the same thing.

      Epic DOES have their own store, the Fortnite item shop, where people using their platform can buy stuff.

      Guess what percentage of sales THEY take from everything sold in their store.

      • We should be allowing Amazon, Google and Amazon to open a store in Fortenite. This rabbit hole can go very deep and I think someone should push for it. Not that I am a fan of in-game purchases anyhow.

    • Just because EPIC is the little victim right now, don't think for a minute this has anything to do with consumer protection.

      It's all about money. PERIOD.

      So what?

    • And if roles were reversed you can be damned sure EPIC would have done the same thing.

      The roles don't need to be reversed. You can see from their actions that Epic is just a bit of market power away from falling afoul of antitrust laws, which is quite impressive for such a small nothing of a company.

      They talk a good game about how Google, Steam, Apple etc are monopolies that reduce choice, and damn them for daring to charge a fee, while at the same time they themselves actively reduce competition in the market place by buying out popular IP to restrict to their service, and engaging in 3rd p

  • sports betting apps don't pay fees on ios & google but why are they not doing the same for other stuff?

    • Apps that allow me to charge my car and pay for it using the networks systems don't pay fees on IOS and Android other than the developer fee.
      My bank's app is the same. I can do all my banking and Apple gets a big fat $0.00 from me.

  • Tencent getting it's investment value... (Score:3)

    by krisbrowne42 ( 549049 ) on Friday March 25, 2022 @02:50PM (#62389705)
    Epic is fighting to have 0 oversight on any platform for anything installed by their storefront... They want to be able to completely bypass the platform controls entailed by using Google or Apple's app stores. By itself this is a bad idea, because they also have little to no regard for what kinds of apps/games are going to be offered through their front... But additionally, Tencent has at least a 40% stake in Epic and any gains on bypassing platform controls will benefit them for their state-owned/controlled app platforms. Don't make the mistake that this is just about Fortnite bucks.

  • Gatekeeping the gatekeepers... (Score:3)

    by Macdude ( 23507 ) on Friday March 25, 2022 @04:43PM (#62390017)

    So, I take it Epic is still pissed that Apple and Google's gatekeeping is blocking their ability to be gatekeepers?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Tom ( 822 )

      Yes. We see corporate behemoths fighting over who'll get the biggest pile of the prey they plan to hunt down.

      Before you applaud either side, remember that WE ARE THAT PREY.

    • Epic would like to frame it as David vs Goliath and how they are for the common people. In reality, Epic wants to do whatever they want in Apple and Google stores and at the same time impose whatever restrictions they want on their platform.

  • I know this is Slashdot and I will be downvoted for this, so be it.

    Both Apple and Google give you a service. By using their store you get:
    * They will link to your app in other similar apps. That is free advertisement.
    * Feature your app the first week. More free advertisement.
    * Processes credit cards and takes care of currency conversion.
    * Take care of software distribution in many countries.
    * Provide statistics that help you improve your store page
    * Provide a platform for receiving user feedback and help

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