WASHINGTON | Facebook announced on Friday that it had reached an agreement with Apple for the iPhone maker and operator to suspend its 30% commission on certain transactions until the end of the year, as more and more voices are raised against the “Apple tax”.
The social media giant asked Apple in August to reduce this commission for its new tool for organizing paid online events, which allows SMEs to offer cooking, yoga and other classes. of videoconferences via their Facebook page, for a rate that they are free to define.
Facebook has promised not to receive any commission on these events for at least a year, so that the organizers receive all the money raised … if they use a computer or a mobile device running Android, the operating system of Google.
Because under iOS, the Apple system, small businesses or content creators received only 70% of their revenue, in accordance with the brand’s rules for the App Store, its essential application download platform (including the one from Facebook).
The Californian group had requested this effort from Apple to support SMEs in difficulty by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Apple has given a momentary three-month respite, after which struggling companies will again have to pay Apple the full App Store tax of 30%,” commented Joe Osborne, a Facebook spokesperson. .
All companies will benefit, except the creators of content on Facebook Gaming.
Apple did not react to an AFP solicitation. The firm usually responds to these accusations by explaining that the commission, of a standard level in the market, is used to ensure the proper functioning of the platform and the safety of the users.
The news comes as a dozen companies, including Deezer, Spotify, Match Group (Tinder) and Epic Games (publisher of Fortnite) have just formed an alliance against Apple, which they accuse of abusing a dominant position on its platform for downloading mobile applications.
The association wants to change the regulations on app stores. She criticizes mobile platform operators – mainly Apple (iOS) and Google (Android) – for being both judges and parties and for crushing the competition by promoting their own products.
Epic Games is, for its part, engaged in a fierce legal and media battle against Apple on the same subject.