<story><title>Apple countersues Epic, seeks punitive damages</title><url>https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-countersues-fortnite-maker-epic-games-seeking-to-halt-in-app-payments-11599592017</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>bww</author><text>This is a very bad look on Apple. Regardless of the enforceability of their agreements, the sense of entitlement that underlies Apple’s position is shocking.&lt;p&gt;The claim that Epic has “lined [its] pockets at Apple’s expense” implies that Apple deserves to sit in the middle of every transaction that happens on their devices and take a margin. This is the world’s most valuable company we’re talking about here; assertions like this demonstrate an unbelievable lack of self-awareness.&lt;p&gt;Let’s also not forget that Apple already extracts huge amounts of money from developers even if they don’t make a cent on transaction margins.&lt;p&gt;It’s not possible to develop for iOS without a Mac, and therefore even the smallest developer making free apps has paid Apple for at least: one computer, one of each device class they develop for, and the cost of their developer account subscription. Large companies like Epic buy thousands of computers and test devices from Apple. The idea that anything is happening “at Apple’s expense” is preposterous.&lt;p&gt;Maybe next Toyota will decide that they deserve a percentage of Uber’s revenue because Toyota&amp;#x27;s cars help facilitate Uber’s business?</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>heisenbit</author><text>Yes, and they should be more careful for their IPR stance not to become a mess. They demand a cut of the final price of the app product while they were fighting Qualcomm which also wanted a cut of the final value of the phone product. The demands for a percentage can be stretched only so far until they become totally disconnected from the reality and run the danger to be reigned in by a judge.</text></comment>
<story><title>Apple countersues Epic, seeks punitive damages</title><url>https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-countersues-fortnite-maker-epic-games-seeking-to-halt-in-app-payments-11599592017</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>bww</author><text>This is a very bad look on Apple. Regardless of the enforceability of their agreements, the sense of entitlement that underlies Apple’s position is shocking.&lt;p&gt;The claim that Epic has “lined [its] pockets at Apple’s expense” implies that Apple deserves to sit in the middle of every transaction that happens on their devices and take a margin. This is the world’s most valuable company we’re talking about here; assertions like this demonstrate an unbelievable lack of self-awareness.&lt;p&gt;Let’s also not forget that Apple already extracts huge amounts of money from developers even if they don’t make a cent on transaction margins.&lt;p&gt;It’s not possible to develop for iOS without a Mac, and therefore even the smallest developer making free apps has paid Apple for at least: one computer, one of each device class they develop for, and the cost of their developer account subscription. Large companies like Epic buy thousands of computers and test devices from Apple. The idea that anything is happening “at Apple’s expense” is preposterous.&lt;p&gt;Maybe next Toyota will decide that they deserve a percentage of Uber’s revenue because Toyota&amp;#x27;s cars help facilitate Uber’s business?</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>ecf</author><text>&amp;gt; Maybe next Toyota will decide that they deserve a percentage of Uber’s revenue because Toyota&amp;#x27;s cars help facilitate Uber’s business?&lt;p&gt;There are many car manufacturers that Uber could choose from in just the same way that there are many platforms that developers can develop for.&lt;p&gt;Stop trying to spread the idea that the ability to make apps for the iPhone is an inalienable right.</text></comment>