Microsoft thumbs its nose at Apple with new “app fairness” policy

Microsoft adopted a whole slew of "fairness principles" for its Windows app store. The list of principles does look like a decent set of guidelines for both consumers and developers—but it also looks a whole lot like Microsoft is taking the metaphorical ball, throwing it at Apple's face, and daring their iCompetitor to make the next move. The principles essentially promise that Windows will keep on doing what it already does with regard to app distribution, interoperability, payment systems, and everything else. Microsoft said explicitly that its principles draw on work by the Coalition for App Fairness, a trade group that came together in September to push for changes to the App Store policies. That coalition's founding members include companies such as Basecamp, Spotify, and Epic, all of whom have had extremely public fights with Apple over its policies in recent months. he developers who have challenged Apple argue that the company is doing the exact opposite of what Microsoft just promised to keep doing.