In the US, the court continued to consider the so-called Apple tax, a 30 percent commission that the company takes from application developers. This time, Apple CEO Tim Cook answered the court’s questions, which was held in Oakland, California.
Among other things, the top manager said that Apple cares about users, does not allow downloading applications from third-party stores, and carefully checks all products published in the branded App Store. Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said game developers generate the majority of App Store revenue. She noted that Apple’s revenue from content creators “seems disproportionate.”
Tim Cook tried to convince the judge that Apple does not violate competition rules by prohibiting developers from using third-party payment systems in their products and charging a 30% commission on user transactions. When asked about the possibility of allowing users to use third-party stores to find cheaper options, the head of Apple replied that users already have a choice between the iPhone and a large number of Android smartphones. Separate emphasis was placed on the fact that Apple is putting a lot of effort into checking applications, thereby taking care of user security and the confidentiality of their personal data.
The litigation between Apple and Epic Games began last year after the developers added their own payment system to the popular game Fortnite. This allowed users to make in-app purchases without paying Apple a commission. In response, Apple removed the game from the App Store, and Epic Games accused the company of anti-competitive behavior and creating a monopoly. This is not the first meeting in the framework of this proceeding. The judge is expected to announce the final decision at a future hearing.
Featured Image Source: Vicki Behringer / Reuters