IGDA attacks Amazon Appstore terms

The International Game Developers Association has posted an open letter on its official blog criticising the terms for Amazon's new Android Appstore and warning developers of the precedent that it sets.

Signed by "The IGDA Board of Directors", the letter cites "significant concerns about Amazon's current Appstore distribution terms and the negative impact they may have on the game development community".

Speaking directly to developers, the IGDA warns that Amazon reserves the right to control the pricing of games - as well as the right to pay "the greater of 70% of the purchase price or 20% of the List Price."

Amazon has expressed zero willingness to adjust its distribution terms.

Open letter from the IGDA

"We are not aware of any other retailer having a formal policy of paying a supplier just 20% of the supplier's minimum list price without the supplier's permission," says the letter.

The IGDA is also concerned that Amazon reserves the right to cut the price of any game which is sold on other services. Even a temporary price promotion on another service will result in a lower list price in Amazon's Appstore, according to the IGDA's reading of the terms and conditions.

The open letter goes onto identify five "potentially problematic scenarios"

• 1. Amazon suddenly creating steep discounts for a significant proportion of its catalogue.
• 2. Being forced to choose between Amazon and other markets over promotions.
• 3. Creating a precedent for terms that will make minimum list prices irrelevant.
• 4. Steep discounts for niche products that significantly reduce a product's revenue potential.
• 5. Discounting of hit titles when they are already selling well at a higher price.

In summary the IGDA claims that, "under Amazon's current terms, Amazon has little incentive not to use a developer's content as a weapon with which to capture marketshare from competing app stores".

The IGDA has already been in contact with Amazon but claims that the company has "expressed zero willingness to adjust its distribution terms". Nevertheless, the IGDA is insisting that developer's permission should be required before any retailer seeks to pay less than the standard percentage of a developer's minimum list price.

It also argued that developers should have the freedom to set a minimum list price of whatever amount they see fit, without regard to pricing in other app stores.

"We respect Amazon's right to stay the course, but as part of our mission to educate developers, we feel that it is imperative to inform the community of the significant potential downside to Amazon's current Appstore terms," ends the letter. "If you feel similarly, we urge you to communicate your feelings on this matter directly with Amazon."