TL;DR
-
Congress sent a letter of complaint to Tim Cook, alleging that Apple’s App Store rules are hindering the progress and growth of advanced innovations such as blockchain and NFTs.
-
The letter suggests that Congress considers these rules anti-competitive and potentially monopolistic.
Full story
We read the letter of complaint sent from Congress to Tim Cook, so you don’t have to.
Here’s the letter, translated as if it’s a couple of friends having heart to heart over a beer.
Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Jan Schakowsky said something to the tune of:
“Timmy, my husband… Look, we don’t mean to point fingers, but hey… we can’t help but notice that your App Store rules are a little out of date.
We’ve reviewed them and there’s a chance they could inadvertently hinder the progress and growth of cutting-edge innovations like blockchain and NFTs.
Looking in from the outside, it feels like you’re taking advantage of this new technology, while at the same time limiting the functionality of the apps that use it.
It’s like… take advantage of the technology as much as you want (you’re doing your thing!) – but don’t punish others who try to do the same, yes?
You continue to mandate these “lite” versions of crypto apps, which remove functionality, harm the user experience and development of the underlying technology…
While Apple continues to benefit anyway.
That line you keep drawing? You know the one:
“You can accept payments in your app as long as it goes through our Apple payment system…which doesn’t accept blockchain payments by the way”
Yeah, well, some might see that as an attempt to suppress competition.
And you know how we (Congress) feel about anti-competitive behavior. We don’t tolerate it.
So take it easy, yes?
Okay, now – whose round is it?”
Fin.