Adam Kos Apple has announced that it will take a 27% commission on dating app purchases through third-party payment options in the Netherlands, in line with a Dutch regulatory ruling. As it turns out, the developers should have given up on alternative payment options, but rather focused on reducing the commission itself.
In mid-January of this year, the App Store case stirred up again. That is, the one that smacks of Apple's monopoly on the distribution of digital content on the company's devices. And on Apple pickers we informed you that in order for Apple to comply decision of the Dutch authorities, announced that it will allow dating app developers (for now only) to offer alternative payment systems other than its App Store, bypassing traditional In-App purchases with 15-30% commissions. We added that the developers have not yet won here either. And now we know they actually lost.
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Discount 3%
V update on the website support for developers, Apple said that of transactions made on dating apps that use alternative payment methods, will charge 27% commission instead of the usual 30%. Apple says the reduced commission does not include value for the collection and remittance of taxes that the company does. So it's a bittersweet victory indeed.
Yes, Apple actually says here that developers of dating apps can include a link that directs users to the developer's website to complete the purchase from them, not Apple. And that is a real victory. But it might seem that if the transaction is not made with Apple, the developer will not have to pay anything from it. But the footbridge's fault. The company literally states here:
“Pursuant to the order of the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), dating apps that obtain authorization to link with or use a third-party in-app payment provider will pay a transaction fee to Apple. Apple will charge a 27% commission on the price paid by the user excluding value added tax. This is a reduced rate that does not include the value associated with payment processing and related activities. Developers will be responsible for the collection and remittance of all applicable taxes, such as Dutch Value Added Tax (VAT), for sales processed by the third party payment provider.”
It's about money and nothing more
This "concession by Apple came in the wake of the ACM's decision in December that Apple was committing an "abuse of market power" by restricting the use of third-party payment methods in dating apps. The ACM has threatened to fine Apple up to €50 million per week if it does not allow dating apps to offer alternative payment options. And since Apple counts every dollar, it has now backed down, but it's a move that makes sense.
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Apple still says it is concerned that these changes could compromise user comfort and create new threats to user privacy and data security. Sure, that's one thing, but finances are another. As a result, it was about getting out of the need to pay Apple its high fees. So, alternative payment methods solve this, so at least in Dutch dating sites it would be possible, because Apple allowed it, but it will just steam the poor developers/companies/providers with a 27% fee.
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On the other hand, if the developer of another title is clever and wraps it in a dating app, even if it is intended for something else entirely, they can save those three percent on all Apple fees. But the question is whether it will pay off for him, whether all the payment gateways and obstructions around won't end up being more expensive. In the end, we didn't actually move anywhere and everything remains the same. Maybe next time.
