I am a big fan of Facebook and we are developing games for the platform.  While many  ruminate over the implications of Facebook’s privacy changes I am much more concerned by the implications of other policy changes towards businesses.

Some of my compatriots might worry about the reorganization of notifications and requests, but the elephant in the room is Facebook’s Credits.  Credits are an initiative to take control of the monetization of all apps on the platform by taking a Apple-sized bite of 30% of every transaction. This will effectively erase any profit for many companies.

It’s their platform.. why shouldn’t they?  If I were in their position I  would instead be wondering why they waited so long.   Was it because they knew that the bulk of initial investment in their platform was contingent on lower margins?  Did Facebook wait till the market matured on other people’s investment before deciding to take over the market?

An ecosystem of companies has been created around monetizing the Facebook platform.  Not the least of these are payment providers.  If as expected Facebook announces later this year that Facebook Credits are the only allowed  payment solution for apps, these companies will go out of business and the application developers who can afford to stay in business will be out a large chunk of change.

In effect Facebook, a monopoly, is using its platform to force its way into other businesses that rely on that platform.   We are also seeing preferential back room deals and purported arm twisting being used with Zynga to force adoption.  Simultaneously Facebook also wants to export their monopoly to the rest of the internet.  If you think  this feels a bit like the issues surrounding Microsoft’s and Intel’s anti-trust cases you are not alone!

I am not implying that Facebook or even Microsoft or Intel are evil.  I develop for all of these platforms and their existence provides the infrastructure for an entire ecosystem of businesses.  Platforms rock!

The reality is that it is the nature of business to push the edges of the legal system to achieve the best return for their investors.  It is the role of the FTC to push back when the companies start coloring outside the lines to ensure everyone has an even playing field.

Perhaps this is the real reason why Facebook is hiring former FTC Chief Tim Muris? With the agreement with Zynga sealed and Facebook still mum on their ultimate decision to require Credits, the FTC may be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

What do you think?

We all have aspirations great and small. Though he had lived his life as a scientist and teacher and was at that time the public face of the CRD, Robert’s dream was a modest retirement on a hillside in China. The CRD was to be his last task before relaxing and living the simple life. It saddens me to think Robert won’t get that chance. I hope he was dreaming that dream the night he left us in his sleep.

Robert was a man who you could not help but like. A man who you felt you could trust and who regardless of what happened around him would treat you with respect. He had an infectious love of life that was only tempered by the his role and place in the world. I will miss my friend Robert and how he represented to me the many sides of China as it enters this brave new world.

Farewell to our friend Robert, you will always be China to me.

Chuck was a good guy who was incredibly smart and capable. One of the few straight shooters I know in Washington. He not only had a great reputation, but it was well earned.

I don’t know why he ended up killing himself. I know that the government can be a meat grinder, especially when you get to a high enough level. I got out of DOD contract work quite a while back to escape the drain it can be. I do not for a minute believe that Chuck did anything wrong. It just wasn’t his style.

No I believe that a good man got caught in the machinery of sensational news and government digression and his sensibilities made him do the “honorable” thing. It is a true shame when the system harms the true heroes it was put in place to support.

All that aside, I salute you Chuck and all that you were. I support your friends and family in thier morning and will always remember Chuck as the great guy that he was.