Steve Streza

If true, Apple demanding rent from Patreon subscriptions is particularly offensive. The people who Apple will be stealing money from, online creators, don't have any relationship with Apple here. They didn't ask to be here.

Apple made a billion dollars in profit last quarter *every four days*. This is wholly unnecessary. It is pure evil greed. They really weren't screwing around when they made an ad destroying all of those creative instruments and art tools. https://news.patreon.com/articles/understanding-apple-requirements-for-patreon

Apple’s requirements to hit creators and fans on Patreon

Apple requires that Patreon switch to their iOS in-app purchase system, or risk being removed from the App Store. Here’s what’s creators need to know.

Apple’s requirements to hit creators and fans on Patreon
Aug 12, 2024 at 6:53pmWeb
Show threaddemizeAug 12, 2024

@stevestreza their new rules for the EU basically say "if you subscribe to our ruleset that lets you handle your own payments, you owe us 30% of any sale made to a user of your app within 30 days of the last time they made a payment within your app"

they're rent-seeking in every way possible and it's... frankly disgusting

Show threadCorry HainesAug 12, 2024

@stevestreza If I am reading this correctly, it also allows Patreon to wholly simplify their own billing, and possibly offload all their iOS-sourced credit card fees to creators/users.

So this kinda backdoor implements some of the changes that Patreon wanted a few years back, I think?

Show threadSteve StrezaAug 12, 2024
@corry I work in a similar space so I won't comment on how Patreon conducts business. But they talk about a requirement and mandate from Apple, which suggests that this was a decision made by Apple.
Show threadCorry HainesAug 12, 2024

@stevestreza nod, could totally be that.

But it arguably helps Patreon too, so I have to wonder if there is some amount of “oh no” in public and “thank goodness” in private. Because they could have turned off app based subs.

Regardless, Apple is in the wrong too. Just wondering if Patreon is using this to stealth some changes they wanted anyways.

Show threadCorry HainesAug 12, 2024

@stevestreza and Patreon also mentioned there is a direct marketplace in their app, which more definitely flies in the face of the old rules

https://www.patreon.com/product/digital-product

Show threadKanceptAug 12, 2024
@stevestreza not everything needs to be an app.
Show threadTenkomanAug 12, 2024
@stevestreza I suppose the EU will intervene here also (like with the other app store rules Apple tried to blame on others)
Show threadSomeGadgetGuyAug 12, 2024
@stevestreza
"If true"?
We know it's true. Apple has been raking developers and platforms for "access" to iPhone users for years now.
They held updates for WordPress to force WP to include in app payments.
They held updates for Facebook, when FB tried to disclose why payments and charitable donations had fees taken out of them (apple took the fees, FB just wasn't allowed to tell users that).
Now this for patreon.
Apple is LONG overdue a SIGNIFICANT regulatory action and market correction.
Show threadSteve StrezaAug 12, 2024
@SomeGadgetGuy I've been beating the "Apple is hostile to developers" drum for over a decade, don't worry. It can also be true that companies hide bad news behind "woe is me Apple is punishing us uwu" (and while I am absolutely not implying or suggesting that is happening here, it has happened before and we should leave room for the facts changing, but that is independent of whether Apple is hostile to developers).
Show threadSomeGadgetGuyAug 12, 2024

@stevestreza

Definitely true, but when things like that happen, do we address it from the developers side first, or should we be taking a harder stance on the LARGER entity that has consistently shown abuse in that space.

"Oh no, one company did something kinda bad and is trying to hide behind this argument that Apple is abusing their market power! I guess let Apple off the hook!"

If we could correct for Apple's shitty abuse of devs, then other bad devs wouldn't be able to hide behind that reputation as an excuse.

It would actually be BETTER for Apple's reputation there if they were doing business in a better fashion. We just know that doesn't make Apple as much money as raking devs does now.

Show threadJohn Bekas JrAug 12, 2024
@stevestreza But Apple needs their pound of flesh.
Show threadAaron Bieber (no relation)Aug 13, 2024

@stevestreza "Choice is just a click away." —Google

When will the DOJ nail Apple 😉

Show threadClaudiusAug 13, 2024
@stevestreza I wonder if apple will like it when thousands of artists augment their "like and subscribe" with the words "but not on an iPhone" 🤪