William Gallagher
A consortium of Korean companies are petitioning the Korean Communications Commission, saying that Apple and Google's App Store in-app purchase rules are illegal.
Following Korea's approval of Apple's plans to remedy its allegedly anti-competitive trading, developers in the region are lobbying for a new investigation into in-app purchases with both Apple and Google. An unspecified number of firms have asked the Korea Communications Commission to investigate the legality of being forced to use these companies' systems.
According to The Korea Herald, an alliance of local startup developers called the Korea Startup Forum, object both to how much Apple and Google charge, and to the absence of any alternatives.
"While the 30 percent commission rate is too high in itself," Consortium president Choi Sung-jin said, "it is more problematic that they force a specific payment system for the app markets."
The group's president added that this is particularly unfair on small companies because larger firms may allegedly have the ability to negotiate their commission rates. Choi Sung-jin also said that Apple and Google could decide to raise their fees without consultation.
Neither Apple nor Google representatives in Korea have commented.
The current dispute between both of these companies and Fortnite developer Epic also involves in-app purchases. Apple separately defended its App Store polices at an antitrust hearing, and also supported research that favorably compared it to other digital marketplaces.
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Oliver Haslam
18 Comments
I’m starting to think Apple should just stop all in-app purchases, except for physical goods which have no charge. Make all apps an upfront purchase.
Yup, the bandwagon has gotten going.
Apple, (and Google) are bad. They must be stopped. Ignore the reasons, or rational, just act.The mob has spoken, you must go along or get out of the way, not just in Korea, but everywhere.
This won't end well.
How about turning the tables and creating a 2nd App Store. The transaction to use alternative app stores requires a fee, which forces the user to acknowledge they have left the safety of the walled garden and entered the Wild West.
I guess these guys are used to South Korean tech companies, they're so darned ethical!