Publishers in Europe are reportedly indignant over Apple's decision to reject Sony's Reader app, and have stated that they are 'confused' with the company's charging policies. The publishers are now gearing up to meet in London later this month to plan their next move.
Grzegorz Piechota, the European president of the International Newsmedia Marketing Association (INMA), has said that the INMA will be meeting with the European Online Publishers Association and the magazine association FIPP. At an invitation-only roundtable on February 17 in London, the groups will compare notes on Apple's new subscription charging rules. The INMA represents about 5,000 members across 80 countries worldwide.
The news follows a recent move by Apple to reject the Sony Reader app from the app store, as it violated certain new terms for in-app subscriptions. Apple says that new apps need to include Apple's own in-app charging option.
Publishers have expressed concern over the apparent lack of transparency in Apple's acceptance or rejection of apps, and its inconsistency in communicating and implementing its new policies. While some publishers have received e-mails in this regard, some have been given informal phone calls. Publishers in Belgium and France are reportedly taking the matter to the authorities, making requests that Apple be investigated by antitrust watchdogs.
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