US senators reintroduce bill to open Apple and Google’s app stores Leave a comment

Senators Marsha Blacburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) have reintroduced a bill that will pressure app retailer house owners like Apple and Google to enable third-party cost techniques and sideloading apps, amongst a group of different developer-friendly adjustments. The bill, referred to as the Open App Markets App, was initially launched in 2021, however it by no means got here up for a vote after passing by way of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2022.

The Open App Markets Act applies its adjustments to app stores with 50,000 month-to-month customers or extra, most clearly relevant to the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Like the unique bill, the reintroduced Open App Markets Act desires lined firms to enable issues like sideloading, third-party app stores and various funds techniques, whereas defending builders potential to “tell consumers about lower prices and offer competitive pricing.” It would additionally forestall app retailer operators from privileging their very own apps and providers in app retailer search outcomes.

While the goals of the brand new bill are largely the identical as the unique one, the authorized surroundings is meaningfully completely different. Apple has been compelled to enable third-party app stores and various cost techniques within the European Union following the introduction of the Digital Markets Act in 2022. Thanks to its failure to make good on the small concession Epic gained by way of its lawsuit, Apple has additionally been compelled to enable builders to direct clients to pay for issues exterior of the App Store and its in-app funds system. The Open App Markets Act would make these sorts of adjustments the regulation within the US.

It appears potential the bill may go, too. Regulatory strain on tech firms has solely elevated since 2021. For instance, Utah not too long ago handed an age-verification regulation that will require app stores to solely enable customers 18 and up to make an account.