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> Apple hasn't changed the rules since, like, 2009 before they had the theoretical "monopoly" status. This couldn't be further from the truth. They have carved

> Apple hasn't changed the rules since, like, 2009 before they had the theoretical "monopoly" status. This couldn't be further from the truth. They have carved out many exceptions to the 30% commission over the years - often as part of sweetheart deals to attract larger entities that have negotiating leverage, such as Netflix and Amazon.

gjsman-1000 5y ago
Yes, but in monopoly law, the rules haven't changed from the perspective that Apple hasn't raised prices. Apple can lower them all they want, but if they raise them when they got their monopoly status so as to take advantage of their market, that would be illegal. However, that relies on the idea that Apple is even a monopoly to begin with, and that really depends on what you define "the market" as. Is the product an iPhone and the whole cohesive experience with it (IAP and App Store included) in which case it's a duopoly at best, or are these separate markets that it is possible to have a monopoly in?
- peoplefromibiza 5y ago
  As a non American this is very interesting knowledge. I have a question: in USA could Tesla force Tesla Powerwall owners to only buy electricity from Tesla approved suppliers and when they sell their product through Tesla store, Tesla gets a 30% cut?
  - gjsman-1000 5y ago
    In theory, if they sold you the product with that restriction out of the box and didn't change it later to do this, so you bought the product knowing with basic research that it would be restricted in this way, yes they could.
- rebelos 5y ago
  > Yes, but in monopoly law, the rules haven't changed from the perspective that Apple hasn't raised prices. Apple can lower them all they want, but if they raise them when they got their monopoly status so as to take advantage of their market, that would be illegal. Once again you're wrong and you should really stop commenting on business law. There are a wide range of legal precedents that have bearing here and these specific dealings could absolutely be ruled as anticompetitive in court.

gjsman-1000 5y ago

Yes, but in monopoly law, the rules haven't changed from the perspective that Apple hasn't raised prices. Apple can lower them all they want, but if they raise them when they got their monopoly status so as to take advantage of their market, that would be illegal. However, that relies on the idea that Apple is even a monopoly to begin with, and that really depends on what you define "the market" as. Is the product an iPhone and the whole cohesive experience with it (IAP and App Store included) in which case it's a duopoly at best, or are these separate markets that it is possible to have a monopoly in?

peoplefromibiza 5y ago
As a non American this is very interesting knowledge. I have a question: in USA could Tesla force Tesla Powerwall owners to only buy electricity from Tesla approved suppliers and when they sell their product through Tesla store, Tesla gets a 30% cut?
- gjsman-1000 5y ago
  In theory, if they sold you the product with that restriction out of the box and didn't change it later to do this, so you bought the product knowing with basic research that it would be restricted in this way, yes they could.
rebelos 5y ago
> Yes, but in monopoly law, the rules haven't changed from the perspective that Apple hasn't raised prices. Apple can lower them all they want, but if they raise them when they got their monopoly status so as to take advantage of their market, that would be illegal. Once again you're wrong and you should really stop commenting on business law. There are a wide range of legal precedents that have bearing here and these specific dealings could absolutely be ruled as anticompetitive in court.