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>For one, this makes deploying a free app on an alternative store (that becomes popular) simply impossible? You can monetize it with in app payments or ads suc

>For one, this makes deploying a free app on an alternative store (that becomes popular) simply impossible? You can monetize it with in app payments or ads such that wealthy people subsidize other users. If the app is from a nonprofit they can get the fee waived.

fsniper 3y ago
This is asking some wealthier users to subsidize Apple, not other users.
themoonisachees 3y ago
Or, and hear me out on this, maybe I want to make useful apps that don't data mine their users and I also would like not to take donations. This is a valid want to have (and I honestly can't believe you would suggest to 'just' sell out your users) and it would take a single app getting popular (or apple just straight up lying, I would have no way of verifying their count) to wipe out all of my capital. It's 'nice' that there exists options to pay for the fee, but realistically the fee shouldn't exist, and it is also illegal.
- its_ethan 3y ago
  Lucky for you, you are still able to distribute your free app for free on the Apple App Store. No surprise costs if your app becomes incredibly popular, and better still- that's where the vast majority of people will continue to go for getting new apps (regardless of this legislation) so it's free exposure for you as well.
  - conradfr 3y ago
    It was never free as it's 99€ per year anyway.
  - hexfish 3y ago
    Aren't you still going to be paying that Core Technology fee once your FOSS non-profit app gets popular? I guess you would have to get that waiver but that's far from trivial[1], especially for an individual that just likes to publish an FOSS/free-as-in-beer app out of kindness. [1] https://developer.apple.com/support/fee-waiver/ https://developer.apple.com/support/fee-waiver/
    - its_ethan 3y ago
      If you're distributing your free app through the Apple App Store, no you wouldn't ever pay a core technology fee, even if you had a billion downloads.. it's a fee only for apps distributed by third party app stores.
ApolloFortyNine 3y ago
Not every app needs monetization. And it's not exactly like 'just publish on the regular app store' is a fantastic option, since that still requires you to pay a developer fee. I shouldn't have to register as a non profit so I can release a hacker news reader app for free...

fsniper 3y ago

This is asking some wealthier users to subsidize Apple, not other users.

themoonisachees 3y ago

Or, and hear me out on this, maybe I want to make useful apps that don't data mine their users and I also would like not to take donations. This is a valid want to have (and I honestly can't believe you would suggest to 'just' sell out your users) and it would take a single app getting popular (or apple just straight up lying, I would have no way of verifying their count) to wipe out all of my capital. It's 'nice' that there exists options to pay for the fee, but realistically the fee shouldn't exist, and it is also illegal.

its_ethan 3y ago
Lucky for you, you are still able to distribute your free app for free on the Apple App Store. No surprise costs if your app becomes incredibly popular, and better still- that's where the vast majority of people will continue to go for getting new apps (regardless of this legislation) so it's free exposure for you as well.
- conradfr 3y ago
  It was never free as it's 99€ per year anyway.
- hexfish 3y ago
  Aren't you still going to be paying that Core Technology fee once your FOSS non-profit app gets popular? I guess you would have to get that waiver but that's far from trivial[1], especially for an individual that just likes to publish an FOSS/free-as-in-beer app out of kindness. [1] https://developer.apple.com/support/fee-waiver/ https://developer.apple.com/support/fee-waiver/
  - its_ethan 3y ago
    If you're distributing your free app through the Apple App Store, no you wouldn't ever pay a core technology fee, even if you had a billion downloads.. it's a fee only for apps distributed by third party app stores.

ApolloFortyNine 3y ago

Not every app needs monetization. And it's not exactly like 'just publish on the regular app store' is a fantastic option, since that still requires you to pay a developer fee. I shouldn't have to register as a non profit so I can release a hacker news reader app for free...