[Despegar]

The EU is mandating sideloading, it's not mandating Apple do it for free. Until now, developers have been licensing Apple's intellectual property in a bundle through the Developer Program License Agreement. For anyone that goes through the sideloading route, they can expect to enter into a different contractual agreement with Apple to license their technology.

Otherwise they're building a web app, which they've always been able to do!

[smoldesu]

What a sham, though. Developers already pay for Apple's IP

- When they pay $99/year for their developer license

- When they pay royalties on every payment that gets processed

- When they buy and promote Apple hardware and software

People simply want to remove the payment processing one. If Apple really needs more money to build their amazing intellectual property, they have plenty of ways to bill developers for services rendered. Their current system is undeniably exploitative, and the EU won't stop until that exploitation is alleviated. Apple will stop at nothing to defend their control, but will ultimately be forced to abide by Europe's terms. They're not defying small-fry court orders in the Netherlands anymore.

[GekkePrutser]

For me as a user it's not about the payment thing at all. It's about being able to do with my device what I want without the manufacturer having to approve it first.

[heavyset_go]

There's an intersection because Apple mandates that all apps use their payment service to process any payment.

[Spivak]

You're exactly the person the top of thread person is talking about. When Apple was forced to allow 3rd party payment processors they still charged developers a 27% commission on the sale of digital goods.

[smoldesu]

Sounds like they should prepare for another EU interjection then.

[EMIRELADERO]

What if, because of the new regulations, a new ecosystem of open-source iOS SDKs pops up? Developers who use those would not have to pay Apple at all, since they are not using any of Apple's IP.