TL;DR
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Congress sent a letter of complaint to Tim Cook, claiming Apple’s App Store rules are hindering the progress and growth of cutting-edge innovations like blockchain and NFTs.
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The letter suggests that congress sees these rules as 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 were a couple of mates having a heart-to-heart over a beer.
Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Jan Schakowsky said something to the tune of:
“Timmy, my guy… Look, we don’t want to point fingers, but ah…we can’t help but notice your App Store rules are a little dated.
We’ve had a look at them and there’s a chance they might be inadvertently hindering the progress and growth of cutting-edge innovations like blockchain and NFTs.
From the outside looking in, it feels like you’re capitalizing on this new technology, while simultaneously limiting the functionality of the apps that use it.
It’s like…capitalize on the tech all you want (you do your thing!) – but don’t punish others that are trying to do the same, yeah?
You keep mandating these ‘lite’ versions of crypto apps, that strip away functionality, hurting the user experience and development of the underlying tech…
All while Apple continues to benefit, regardless.
That line you keep towing? You know the one:
‘You can accept payments in your app as long as it goes through our Apple payments system…which btw, doesn’t accept blockchain payments’
Yeah, well, some might look at that as an attempt to suppress competition.
And you know how we (congress) feel about anti-competitive behavior. We won’t tolerate it.
So ease up, yeah?
Alright, now – whose round is it?“
Fin.
