5 ms·

As the only buyer of goods sold to me, and the only seller of goods sold by me, I suppose I'm running a monopsony and then some. May as well add me to the list.

As the only buyer of goods sold to me, and the only seller of goods sold by me, I suppose I'm running a monopsony and then some. May as well add me to the list. On a serious note: would a judgement in this case have immediate impact on other companies, or would it set a precedent? Also, what are the proposed damages? How is Apple supposed to repair the situation? Honestly, this feels entirely arbitrary (Apple is far from the only one that leverages their position as digital goods market makers). I'm not saying conspiracy or anything, but I wonder if this is related to the POTUS's vendetta against AAPL.

stuaxo 7y ago
It's not arbitrary, the appstore is a de-facto monopsony, the ordinary user doesn't install apps from anywhere. Most Android phones come with an alternate appstore installed (e.g. Samsung come with their own one as well as google play) and you can easily install others. To install alternates on the iPhone you have to root it.
- Razengan 7y ago
  That applies to game consoles too, since the 1980s.
  - ernesth 7y ago
    In the 80s, the game console makers did not operate the store where you were buying games. Even, you could buy second-hand games without Atari or Nintendo receiving any part of the fee!
    - scarface74 7y ago
      Even back in the 80s, the console makers “controlled distribution”. Nintendo forced third parties to use their manufacturing facilities and they all force third parties to distribute their haves with a license key. Console makers have always forced third parties to pay a fee to distribute their games.
      - naikrovek 7y ago
        Yes, and for distribution, that's fine. The ruling is less about Apple forcing consumers to buy only through the AppStore, and more about only allowing sellers to sell through the AppStore. If I make a PS4 game, or a Nintendo Switch game, I can sell it on the PSN store and/or Nintendo e-Shop, sure, but I can also produce a physical copy that I can obtain outside of the store, and that is definitely not the case for Apple software developers. Apple software developers MUST go through the AppStore and they MUST pay that fee, no matter what. It is that specific lack of competition; the lack of other places to sell your iOS applications, that the USSC judged against, by my reading.
        scarface74 7y ago
        What’s the practical difference? The console makers still control physical distribution by forcing third parties to obtain a key, they have to approve all software that goes on their console, and they get a cut of each game sold. Today, almost all games have an online component - that only work on console controlled networks.
        Razengan 7y ago
        > If I make a PS4 game, or a Nintendo Switch game, I can sell it on the PSN store and/or Nintendo e-Shop, sure, but I can also produce a physical copy that I can obtain outside of the store, and that is definitely not the case for Apple software developers. > Apple software developers MUST go through the AppStore and they MUST pay that fee, no matter what. I think you also need to pay a fee to publish any PS4 or Switch game that would run on untampered consoles.
netsharc 7y ago
> As the only buyer of goods sold to me Eh, it doesn't work like that, if I spent a lot of time coding an iOS app, but Apple rejects it, that's my investment gone. Of course I can learn Android development, but I still spent a lot of time learning about iOS without any benefit. Meanwhile, someone sold you a burger, if you didn't buy it, it doesn't mean someone else couldn't buy it...

stuaxo 7y ago

It's not arbitrary, the appstore is a de-facto monopsony, the ordinary user doesn't install apps from anywhere. Most Android phones come with an alternate appstore installed (e.g. Samsung come with their own one as well as google play) and you can easily install others. To install alternates on the iPhone you have to root it.

Razengan 7y ago
That applies to game consoles too, since the 1980s.
- ernesth 7y ago
  In the 80s, the game console makers did not operate the store where you were buying games. Even, you could buy second-hand games without Atari or Nintendo receiving any part of the fee!
  - scarface74 7y ago
    Even back in the 80s, the console makers “controlled distribution”. Nintendo forced third parties to use their manufacturing facilities and they all force third parties to distribute their haves with a license key. Console makers have always forced third parties to pay a fee to distribute their games.
    - naikrovek 7y ago
      Yes, and for distribution, that's fine. The ruling is less about Apple forcing consumers to buy only through the AppStore, and more about only allowing sellers to sell through the AppStore. If I make a PS4 game, or a Nintendo Switch game, I can sell it on the PSN store and/or Nintendo e-Shop, sure, but I can also produce a physical copy that I can obtain outside of the store, and that is definitely not the case for Apple software developers. Apple software developers MUST go through the AppStore and they MUST pay that fee, no matter what. It is that specific lack of competition; the lack of other places to sell your iOS applications, that the USSC judged against, by my reading.
      - scarface74 7y ago
        What’s the practical difference? The console makers still control physical distribution by forcing third parties to obtain a key, they have to approve all software that goes on their console, and they get a cut of each game sold. Today, almost all games have an online component - that only work on console controlled networks.
      - Razengan 7y ago
        > If I make a PS4 game, or a Nintendo Switch game, I can sell it on the PSN store and/or Nintendo e-Shop, sure, but I can also produce a physical copy that I can obtain outside of the store, and that is definitely not the case for Apple software developers. > Apple software developers MUST go through the AppStore and they MUST pay that fee, no matter what. I think you also need to pay a fee to publish any PS4 or Switch game that would run on untampered consoles.

netsharc 7y ago

> As the only buyer of goods sold to me Eh, it doesn't work like that, if I spent a lot of time coding an iOS app, but Apple rejects it, that's my investment gone. Of course I can learn Android development, but I still spent a lot of time learning about iOS without any benefit. Meanwhile, someone sold you a burger, if you didn't buy it, it doesn't mean someone else couldn't buy it...