So Microsoft should be taking a 30% cut of every dime spent on Windows?

muhfuhkuh · on Feb 15, 2011

Apple doesn't charge me (or Valve) anything to buy something from Steam for Mac.

Likewise, they don't charge me when Netflix streams a movie on my Macbook.

It's their _market_ that they impose fees on. Amazon charges their Marketplace sellers up to 25% "referral fee" for all sales. Kindle market is 30% as well, I believe. Valve also takes a cut on both "retail" versions and DLC packs released through Steam. There were companies (like Introversion, who makes the awesome Darwinia and Multiwinia RTS games) that almost went bankrupt if it wasn't for Steams mighty distribution service and marketing (dare I say) genius.

What I don't get is, if NYT and other publishers are so ginned up about Apple's cut, why don't they just say "Hey, iPad users, go to NYTimes.com and subscribe. You'll receive the same hard-hitting journalism and insightful commentary in the Safari-optimized nytimes.com edition as you would from our iPad App. Subscribe today!" Problem solved.

anonymous246 · on Feb 15, 2011

wrt "why dont they just say": Apple prohibits "links" off-app subscription sites. It likely they'll take a dim of plain text too (obviously clickable links are not allowed).

I can kinda sorta understand Amazon charging the Marketplace guys (although 25% seems excessive), since they're targeting the long tail who would otherwise be invisible.

Obviously, I think Amazon charging publishers 30% to reach Kindle owners is bullshit, just as I think about Apple.