Sweeney’s Allegation
In the midst of the ongoing controversy surrounding Apple Inc.’s AAPL App Store rules, Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney has made allegations against the tech giant, accusing it of showing bias towards Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN.
What Happened
A user on X, formerly Twitter, reported purchasing an “ad-free” subscription for Prime Video within the iOS app and made the payment directly to Amazon using their credit card. The absence of an option to pay with the App Store’s in-app purchase and the lack of a ‘scare screen’ sparked the controversy.
Epic’s Reaction
In response, Sweeney criticized Apple for waiving the requirement of using their in-app purchase system for digital goods, implying a biased approach favoring Amazon.
Elon Musk’s Curiosity
The exchange piqued the interest of tech mogul, Elon Musk, who joined the discussion and publicly questioned Apple, “What’s up with this?”
Industry Backlash
This incident comes amid Apple’s proposal to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which has garnered opposition from Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft, Spotify, and Epic Games.
Historical Context
Sweeney has a history of challenging Apple’s policies, accusing the company of resisting court orders related to alternative payment options for apps and games on iOS.
Implications
This isn’t the first time Apple has faced accusations of favoritism. In 2020, it was reported that the tech giant granted Amazon a reduced commission rate for its streaming video-on-demand app, raising concerns about unequal treatment.
Moreover, Apple’s decision to waive its usual App Store commission, allowing services like Netflix and Spotify to handle payments independently, has raised eyebrows in the industry.
The growing criticism suggests that Apple’s practices are under increasing scrutiny and may face continued regulatory and industry pressure in the future.