Apple distributes the app. They should be able to take a 30% cut for that if they wish.
However, my app has an unlimited subscription. Accepting payment for this is handled by Stripe. Once the app is on the users device, if a user subscribes to the unlimited plan, why should I have to pay 30% to Apple? They are not delivering that service in any way, shape, or form.
A better analogy would be that I buy a Nespresso machine on Amazon. Some of that goes to Amazon for facilitating the transaction and delivering it to me, some goes to Nespresso for actually making the device. Then I get a pod subscription from Nespresso. Amazon then says that because the machine was originally bought on Amazon, they are entitled to a 30% cut of that ongoing subscription price, even though the subscription is neither facilitated nor fulfilled by Amazon.
I think we can all agree that would be ridiculous. That is what Apple is doing.
However, my app has an unlimited subscription. Accepting payment for this is handled by Stripe. Once the app is on the users device, if a user subscribes to the unlimited plan, why should I have to pay 30% to Apple? They are not delivering that service in any way, shape, or form.
A better analogy would be that I buy a Nespresso machine on Amazon. Some of that goes to Amazon for facilitating the transaction and delivering it to me, some goes to Nespresso for actually making the device. Then I get a pod subscription from Nespresso. Amazon then says that because the machine was originally bought on Amazon, they are entitled to a 30% cut of that ongoing subscription price, even though the subscription is neither facilitated nor fulfilled by Amazon.
I think we can all agree that would be ridiculous. That is what Apple is doing.