Distributing Dating Apps in the Netherlands | Hacker News Reader

Distributing Dating Apps in the Netherlands

developer.apple.com

31 pointsjannikarndt17 comments

See also Marco Arment's (creator of Overcast) commentary: https://twitter.com/marcoarment/status/1489595417117483010

> As a result, dating app developers using these entitlements will need to submit a separate app binary for iOS and/or iPadOS that may only be distributed on the Netherlands storefront.

> When using a third-party payment system within your app, your app must include an in-app modal sheet explaining that purchases are made through a source other than Apple. It must be displayed prior to: Any payment flow where the user would make a purchase; Any flow to enter payment information, even if it is not for a specific purchase. > Body: All purchases in the <App Name> app will be managed by the developer “<Developer Name>.” Your stored App Store payment method and related features, such as subscription management and refund requests, will not be available. Only purchases through the App Store are secured by Apple.

> Consistent with the ACM’s order, dating apps that are granted an entitlement to link out or use a third-party in-app payment provider will pay Apple a commission on transactions. Apple will charge a 27% commission on the price paid by the user, net of value-added taxes. This is a reduced rate that excludes value related to payment processing and related activities.

27% is still absolutely insane.

Why? 27% is charged in many places. Digital and physical.

Yes, and it's insane.

Credit card processing is 3.5-4.5%, dating apps are higher risk so let's say a bit higher, but it literally is 20%.

Dating apps subscriptions are no different from in game content as well - it's same dynamics and even gamifying everything.

And so Apple should just eat the cost of app store servers and the hardware they developed to run the software?

If you don't agree with their fee structure you're welcome to distribute elsewhere.

Apple doesn't allow side loading unless you're jail broken.

Android does. For now.

But again they made the device and you knew that limitation existed when you bought it. If people cared they wouldn't buy them.

3.5-4% is more than Apple charges (3%)

The 27% is not for payment processing, but for the platform. You'll be paying 30% on almost any platform. It has been like this for ages, and is even higher in different industries.. Any publishing deal, book, music, movies, games.. But look at your average retailer. They want a markup. And their distributor wants a markup..

There's a reason why Elon Musk wants to do the complete vertical for spacex...

> Please note that Apple has audit rights pursuant to the entitlement’s terms and conditions.

Apple expects each company to open their books in perpetuity. Simply evil.

Standard practice for any deal where there's a revenue share. Including all the penalties etc if you're off by 5%

It's a small win in some respects. But Apple have been very too at only opening the door on payments that little bit. I would assume (and hope) that this will be the thin edge of the wedge and it will expand over time.

Instead of forcing Apple to allow alternative payment methods, Apple should have been forced to implement PWAs to full specs in Safari/WebKit. That would help take care of the AppStore monopoly.

Steve Troughton-Smith:

> Absolutely vile. This says everything about @tim_cook’s Apple and what it thinks of developers. I hope the company gets exactly what it deserves. Everybody on their executive team should be ashamed, and some of them should not be here when it’s all over. We all see you

> We’ve been told that if Apple ever asked its employees to betray their principles, they’d leave. In a similar vein, everybody, top to bottom, involved in planning, editing, implementation of everything in this document should leave Apple. You betrayed us

https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/14895589519056691...

Sounds like someone just discovered the App Store (and eShop, etc.) business model for the first time.

This is pretty much the way I feel about Apple's management, and the main reason why I wouldn't work at Apple[1]. They've simply gone off the rails.

And I say this as someone that has known/worked with people that were/are currently at Apple - so I know they have smart people working there, that must be thinking along similar veins I'm sure.

[1] My own personal opinion about Apple's management; doesn't mean I hold current non-management employees at Apple to those standards.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com