Epic Games, Spotify, and Tile Form 'Coalition for App Fairness' to 'Fight Back' Against Apple

A range of companies, including Epic Games, Spotify, and Tile, have formed a new organization called the "Coalition for App Fairness," in an effort to highlight developer issues with Apple.

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The organization describes itself as "an independent nonprofit organization founded by industry-leading companies to advocate for freedom of choice and fair competition across the app ecosystem." The coalition is based in Washington D.C. and Brussels, and aims to lead legal and regulatory changes with regards to what it says are three key issues; "anti-competitive policies," "30 percent app tax," and "no consumer freedom."

It sets out a ten-point plan on its website for changes it would like to see made. The points include the demands that "no developer should be required to use an app store exclusively," "every developer should always have access to app stores," "every developer should always have the right to communicate directly with its user through its app," "no app store owner or its platform should engage in self-preferencing its own apps or services," and "no developer should be required to pay unfair, unreasonable or discriminatory fees or revenue shares."

The group includes Epic Games, Spotify, Tile, Basecamp, Blix, Blockchain, Deezer, the European Publishers Council, Match, News Media Europe, Prepear, ProtonMail, and SkyDemon, many of whom have had major disagreements with Apple over various issues.

The group is actively lobbying other developers to join it, saying "together we will fight back against the monopolist control of the app ecosystem by Apple."

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Top Rated Comments

topgunn Avatar
57 months ago
There are blatant mistruths on the App Fairness front page. For example, "For most purchases made within the App Store, Apple takes 30% of the purchase price. No other transaction fee — in any industry — comes close."

Let's list other companies that charge a similar fee for similar overhead: Google, Steam, Amazon, UberEats, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, GrubHub, eBay+PayPal, and the list goes on, I am sure.

Another example, "If consumers want to use a modern mobile device, Apple levies a tax that no one can avoid. No competition, no options, no recourse."

Unless the Apple tax now extends to the billions of Android phones out there, this is ridiculous on its face. While I content that Apple and it's ecosystem are superior (in large part due to the App Store and it's walled garden), to say that Android-based phones are not a modern mobile device and that Apple has no competition is being willfully ignorant, at best.
Score: 163 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
57 months ago
Maybe these companies that founded this self-serving coalition ought to invent their own phone and own ecosystem? If they don't like the T&C let leave and lose those lucrative $$$.
Score: 93 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ugahairydawgs Avatar
57 months ago
I really do wish sites like this one would quit giving these guys a megaphone. Why we continue to incentivize whining with increased exposure is beyond me.
Score: 74 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CylonGlitch Avatar
57 months ago
Companies that will NEVER see another penny from my pocket.

* Epic Games ('https://www.macrumors.com/guide/epic-games-vs-apple/')
* Spotify ('https://www.macrumors.com/2020/09/15/apple-one-unbundle-spotify-irreparable-harm/')
* Tile ('https://www.macrumors.com/2020/05/29/tile-writes-to-eu-accusing-apple-of-abuse-of-power/')
* Basecamp ('https://www.macrumors.com/2020/06/18/phil-schiller-apple-hey-decision-no-changes/')
* Blix ('https://www.macrumors.com/2020/02/05/bluemail-open-letter-to-developers/')
* Blockchain
* Deezer
* the European Publishers Council
* Match
* News Media Europe
* Prepear ('https://www.macrumors.com/2020/08/08/legal-action-against-company-with-pear-logo/')
* ProtonMail
* SkyDemon
Score: 65 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CylonGlitch Avatar
57 months ago

Maybe these companies that founded this self-serving coalition ought to invent their own phone and own ecosystem? If they don't like the T&C let leave and lose those lucrative $$$.
Exactly, Apple has spent BILLIONS and many years developing and producing an Eco system that is safe, secure and comprehensive. Should they NOT be paid for their work? If you don't like it, there is another eco system down the street to go play on (Android, or Windows mobile). Or better yet, spend the time and money and build your own eco system, then you can do anything you want on it.

For this, I will NEVER buy another EPIC product again, ever.
Score: 61 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4jasontv Avatar
57 months ago
That’s a mouthful. I’m just going to call them the Suicide Squad.
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)