Soooo.... Microsoft is being a bit disingenuous here; their own cut from purchases in the xbox store is also 30%. I can't find a number right now, but their cut from xbox live is rumored to be even higher.
As always, the consumers lose when corporations fight. Even as they use us as their jurors in the court of public opinion.
They're both assholes in the size of their cut; don't pick Microsoft's side just because they spoke out first.
Apple could argue that it's Microsoft's 30% cut that makes it impossible for developers to get their games published on the App Store. That too, would be disingenuous.
But Microsoft are making a PR maneuver that they can bring to the table to strike a deal with apple.
Agreed on both points.
Apple does not own the rights to me because I bought an iPhone.
Frankly, they own a bunch of other rights over your use of "your" iPhone when you gave them up when clicking through their user agreements.