主要新闻机构加入到对抗美联社ple's App Store FeesPublishers want the same terms that Apple gave Amazon Prime Video.
BySteve Dent•
This story originally appeared onEngadget
News sites have joinedEpicandSpotifyinfightingApple's high App Store commissions (via theWSJ). A group representing theNew York Times, WSJand other major publishers wants Apple to reduce the 30 percent cut it currently takes on first year subscriptions. "The terms of Apple's unique marketplace greatly impact the ability to continue to invest in high-quality, trusted news and entertainment particularly in competition with other larger firms," said Jason Kint, CEO of Digital Content Next (DCN).
Publishers are joining streaming, gaming and others in fighting Apple on its App Store terms. Fortnite publisher Epic sued Apple for acting as a monopoly after it removed the popular game. Epic laterfiled an injunctionto stop Apple from pulling its developer tools in what Epic called a "retaliatory" measure. Microsoft has alsocriticizedApple over App Store terms that exclude xCloud, Stadia and any other cloud gaming services.
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For news apps that offer subscription services, the App Store normally takes a 30 percent cut in the first year, then a 15 percent cut thereafter. However, DCN is arguing that Apple gavemore favorable termsto Amazon with its Prime Video iOS app, taking only a 15 percent commission from the start — as revealed during recentcongressional hearings. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns theWashington Post, which is part of the DCN group fighting Apple's fees.)
Related:Epic Games Asks Court to Stop Apple Pulling Its Developer Tools Next Week
"We would like to know what conditions our members — high quality digital content companies — would need to meet in order to qualify for the arrangement Amazon is receiving for its Amazon Prime Video app in the Apple App Store," Kint wrote. "I ask that you clearly define the conditions that Amazon satisfied for its arrangement so that DCN's member companies meeting those conditions can be offered the same agreement."
