Re:Apple's Company Registration for its App Store is Awkward...
by eduardordm on Friday December 28, 2012 @01:30PM
(#4978815)
Tying is illegal in the US. The question is 'is that tying?'.
The answer is: yes. The only way this is not tying is by bundling the service: apple would provide the number for you without charging.
But then, D&B competitors could say this is a trust case.
To really solve this apple must offer a list of companies that offer the solution for whatever numbering problem they seem to have. Or just drop the requirement.
Re:Apple's Company Registration for its App Store is Awkward...
by jonhendry on Friday December 28, 2012 @02:37PM
(#4979136)
Apple can't provide the number. It's not their database.
The number itself isn't the issue, it's what it represents: that your business is recorded in a large and reputable database of international businesses that is in widespread use by companies and governments.
Re:Apple's Company Registration for its App Store is Awkward...
by eduardordm on Friday December 28, 2012 @03:04PM
(#4979251)
D&B database is widespread in the US, not internationally. In fact, I own a credit card company/bank and never heard of them until I needed their number. Their database is large because they are filling it, not because companies request.
In fact, S&P and Moody's are the only ratings/registry that can get you anywhere in the banking system.
Apple does not sell DUNS numbers, as they are not Dun & Bradstreet.
It also mentioned the anticompetitive nature of tying a weak/new product to a stronger one. DUNS numbers are not new or esoteric (although I do think of them as being old-fashioned and enterprisey).
So, I struggle with the notion that this could be illegal, but I'd be fascinated to learn more about it.
Sure is developer hostile and counter-productive, though.