Supreme Court wrestles with consumers suit over Apple iPhone apps

[brooklynite]

Source: The Hill

The Supreme Court on Monday grappled over whether to allow a consumer class action lawsuit to go forward against Apple over its alleged monopoly on iPhone applications.

The liberal wing of the court seemed to side with consumers, who argue they are being directly injured by having to pay more for iPhone apps because they can only be purchased through the technology giant’s App Store.

Apple takes a 30 percent commission off the top of all apps purchased and lets developers keep the remaining 70 percent. Knowing Apple keeps 30 percent of each sale, consumers argue the developers inflate their prices.

But Apple and the U.S. government, which intervened in the case on behalf of the company, counter that only the app developers have the required standing to sue for damages, not the people who purchase the apps.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/418249-supreme-court-appears-split-in-consumer-suit-over-apple-iphone-apps

[secondvariety]

1. What a load.

They can get an Android with all the buggy apps then.

[jgmiller]

2. I'm liberal but this is stupid

I'm sorry first off most apps aren't that expensive compared to desktop software packages of days gone by. Second Apple is providing a service (sometimes poorly) to the developers that otherwise would have to be managed by them and is giving them a marketplace to sell the app, 30% might seem high but in reality it's not for what they get.

Finally I actually agree with Apple and the government, the developers could do a class action if they feel that 30% is somehow promoting price fixing or damaging their ability to make money not that consumers are getting hosed. If you argue that then you aren't arguing the right thing for the defined class.