Why Apple Backed Down in Fight With Publishers

Maybe Apple isn’t so untouchable after all. The device maker, which has been locked in a battle with publishers, made a surprise concession recently, dropping a pricing requirement for its App Store that irked publishers. Before, publishers couldn't undercut the subscription price they offered in the App Store—the new guidelines do away with that requirement. The previous guidelines, issued in February, seemed aimed at ensuring Apple had a pricing advantage. They also presented a complication for publishers who are used to testing various price points to hook new subscribers and reward existing ones. Apple doesn’t say a lot about why it does what it does. But while it had gotten a few big publishers to agree to its subscription terms, it’s had pushback from companies over its terms, including the 30 percent it skims off App Store purchases and its refusal to share customer data, and it's likely this move is related to that. Other devices are coming to market, presenting new competition for Apple, and loosening the stranglehold that the company has had over content producers to this point. Plus, publishers are exploring browser-based apps that would skirt the App Store altogether. This week, The Financial Times made waves when it did just that after having rejected Apple’s subscription terms. Outsell’s Ken Doctor believes other publishers, like The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, marquee brands that are important to Apple, see the FT as a potential model to imitate... Continue reading at 'AdWeek'

[ AdWeek | 2011-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #digital editions #gregg hano #vice president #popular science #digital version

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[ PC World | 2011-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple's New Subscription Model: Pros and Cons

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[ PC World | 2011-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Atwood takes stage at TOC and tells publishers to keep feeding their authors

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple move raises doubts over Kindle app

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher demands delaying Borders liquidation

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Unveils Digital Subscription Service

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Maritime Museum looks to move into publishing

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Will Apple Close the e-Book on Kindle?

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[ PC World | 2011-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iPad is a devil's deal for publishers

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[ Betanews | 2011-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Slate | 2011-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The New York Times | 2011-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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