If VISA or MC or AMEX would charge 30% they'd be out of business instantly, on a typical purchase that's all of the profit margin. The only reason Apple gets away with it is because they are virtual goods.

The thing you could compare it with is Telco's fees for using their billing mechanism for virtual purchases.

This article is about Apple blocking Facebook from telling people about the fees, which is what Visa and MC have also been doing for decades.

Yes, but those fees are 1/10th of what Apple charges (or less).

They take 30%? More like 3% or less.

No, they block partners from telling about the fees. That’s the subject of this article.

Understood.

When the gag order on 3-5% fee, it's business. But on 30%, it's mafia level extortion.