EU fines Alphabet $1B US for Google Play, search infractions

> A second fine of 430 million euros ($689 million Cdn) targeted Google's restrictions on its app store Google Play preventing app developers from steering users free of charge to cheaper offers on rival app stores or websites.

There must be a fine for Apple due any day now, considering the ~20% scheme the EU has just told Google is illegal was largely copied from Apple, who implemented it after being fined €500m in April last year for their 27%-fee on steering. At the time the EU told Apple in their judgement that "steering must be free", and now it's apparent that renaming the fees is not a viable workaround.

> a commission of around 20% on non-IAP purchases: 13% for “store services”, 5% for the new Core Technology Commission (replacing the €0.50 per-download Core Technology Fee), and 2% for “initial acquisition”. Small Developer Program members and recurring subscriptions after the first year pay 15% — no “initial acquisition fee” and a reduced “store services” fee of 10%. But everyone’s on the hook for the 5% CTC.

https://daringfireball.net/2025/06/apple_app_store_policy_up...

[dupe] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49019220