Two iOS app developers file suit against Apple, claiming the App Store is a monopoly

[Polycount]

In context: Apple is no stranger to lawsuits, whether it's lodging them against others or being slapped with one itself. You need only search "Apple lawsuit" here on TechSpot for evidence of that -- the company has been hit with suits for everything from its defective "butterfly" keyboards to allegedly lying about the iPhone X's notch and screen size.

Whether all of those suits are warranted or not is not for us to say, but we do know that comparatively few of them last long enough to reach a conclusion, and some of the more spurious ones probably aren't taken all that seriously by Apple's top brass.

However, a newly-filed lawsuit against Apple might just draw the company's attention -- two developers who create content for the App Store have filed litigation against the tech giant, claiming that the App Store has a "monopoly" when it comes to the sale of iOS apps.

This is not the first time such a lawsuit has been leveled against Apple; similar litigation regarding the App Store's 30 percent revenue cut was headed to the Supreme Court last year.

In this case, though, the two plaintiffs take issue with the App Store as a whole, not just its revenue model. "Apple is a monopolist in the U.S. market for iOS app and in-app product distribution services," the plaintiffs' lawyers state in the "relevant facts" section of their suit. "Apple's unlawful practices harm competition, developers, and consumers of apps and in-app products, too."

"Apple is a monopolist in the U.S. market for iOS app and in-app product distribution services,"

The individuals and their legal team, HBSS Law, are seeking class action certification for their case.

"We believe that developers who work hard to design, build, and sell their own apps and in-app digital products in app stores should not be harmed by unfair or anti-competitive behavior from big tech companies," the law firm said in a page dedicated to screening potential class action recruits. "Our legal team is investigating your rights pertaining to the distribution of iOS apps and in-app digital products through the App Store."

Time will tell whether or not this suit will gain any traction, but we will be reaching out to Apple for comment and will update this article if we receive a response.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/80373-two-ios-app-developers-file-suit-against-apple.html

 

[Hexic]

Aw, somebody doesn’t want to play by the rules.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

I hope they lose.

First of all: Apple iPhone itself is a monopoly - probably the most important invention to ever come out of free market capitalism.

While the other Android devices cannibalize each other, iPhone stands alone and sits on the iron charging dock.


Secondly: if you don't want to develop on Apple iOS and play by their rules, then don't. We won't miss you. At all.

This is free market capitalism.

If you don't like it: go create your own phone and your own apps and your own app store.

You have no say here.

 

[Carlos GarPov]

No no no ma petite Cherie. Go and create a phone and OS of you own. Not an apple fan, but USA has gone crazy, you can get sued by ANY means. In theory even a ghost can sue YOU.

 

[Hexic]

No no no ma petite Cherie. Go and create a phone and OS of you own. Not an apple fan, but USA has gone crazy, you can get sued by ANY means. In theory even a ghost can sue YOU.

Not just the US, sadly there are moronic laws everywhere these days.

 

[Dosahka]

I just don't see the point, AppStore and iOS is only available to iPhones/iPads and android is a free software and you can install it on any device you want as @QuantumPhysics said iOS/iPhone is a monopoly, you can't sue them because they own the hardware and software and they are not selling it to install on any device.
Not to mention Apple can further decrease the amount malicious apps, which is not the case on android where you can install app outside of Play Store.

 

[Fearghast]

Of course, it's a monopoly.
Google was first to be sued, Apple is the new case ... so who is the next ... victim? ...
I don't think so, it's a company that actively suppresses any app, developer or means to get apps in "your" device it does not like.

If the case would be closed as a monopoly, I hope Microsoft and Sony are next on the line with their consoles.
In this case, you can only gain as a customer ... so why bother, are you some kind of sheep that loves the company? Do I love the company that makes my toilet paper?

 

[Cubi Dorf]

What it hurt you to allow another app Store? Nobody going buy on it anyway.

I am apple customer, but not fangirl. I think apple having to many rules. But at least they don’t profile you like google.

 

[Dosahka]

What it hurt you to allow another app Store? Nobody going buy on it anyway.

One of the main reason not to install anything from untrusted sources (outside of App Store) is because it can potentially contain malicious codes/scripts anything where your personal data can leaked out and used against you (spam, direct.
Apple took a step forward and say: "if you buy our products [and trust us with your data!] then let me help you increase that trust and curate App Store for you to be more secure"
If a person is has little bit of common sense and sanity they can decide what they want, there pros and cons on either side, if you have Apple device you have to accept the fact that App store for iOS devices has big windows, and small cashier windows to get your app, same applies for the backdoor where they add extra content.
If we talking about android, well any groceries. Both good if you know what to buy or why are you there, if you lost then only your can help out yourself.

But at least they don’t profile you like google.

Yes they do, but the difference is, that they are keeping it for themselves!