The Financial Times Puts Apple In A Corner

The debacle surrounding Apple's subscription plan is once again making the headlines as a major publisher refuses to play by the rules. Apple's latest controversial edict was issued in late February. The gist of it is that iOS content publishers were pushed into a new subscription plan, which allows them to draw recurring fees from their users. Yet, 30 percent of the revenues would go to Apple and users wouldn't have to give their personal details unless they want to. Confident of their powerful position, which would allow them to extract such a tax, Apple's decision was a real tour-de-force. Publishers were expected to follow the new rules, which need to be implemented in their apps by the end of June. After all, who can afford not to be present on iOS right? Well, the Financial Times apparently won't have it Apple's way, and has announced it won't implement the subscription plan and is ready to see its app get pulled. At first, it makes sense that nobody wants to give up 30 percent of subscription revenue. However, the Financial Times' main issue is not primarily monetary as they told Reuters:

We don't want to lose our direct relationship with our subscribers. It's at the core of our business model

Indeed, Apple's subscription plan only provides a few details about you to publishers, and only if you opt-in. Publications like the Financial Times make a lucrative business of selling your personal details to advertisers, so they can, for example, send you spam and what not. So what will happen now? Well, the Financial Times is still negotiating, but unless Apple bends the rules, which is not likely, their app will very likely be pulled come July 1. They're considering other ways to provide their content at the moment, which they didn't specify, but it will probably be a webapp. Nevertheless, this could set a dangerous precedent for Apple if other publishers follow. What do you think? Should Apple give up your privacy so that you can enjoy the Financial Times natively on iOS? Tell us in the comments.

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