Momentum Grows for Bipartisan, Bicameral App Store Reforms
WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Coalition for App Fairness (CAF) applauds the introduction of the bipartisan “Open App Markets Act” in the U.S. House by Representatives Hank Johnson (D-GA), Ken Buck (R-CO), and David Cicilline (D-RI). The bill is the House companion of legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate earlier this week by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The legislation would help create a more competitive app marketplace, ignite innovation in the digital economy, and provide more options for American consumers.
“The Coalition for App Fairness is thrilled that Representatives Johnson, Buck, and Cicilline have introduced this legislation to bring competition to the digital marketplace,” said Meghan DiMuzio, Executive Director of CAF. “With bipartisan legislation in both chambers of Congress, and growing momentum around the world, now is the time to hold app store gatekeepers, like Apple, accountable for their anticompetitive practice that harm consumers and developers. We urge the House and Senate to consider this legislation as soon as possible.”
The Open App Markets Act would fix a broken app marketplace by barring app stores from requiring apps to use their in-app payment systems, through which they charge exorbitant fees and block communications between developers and their own customers. It would also strengthen consumer freedom by allowing people to choose and install the app store and default apps that make the most sense for them, and easily delete pre-installed apps they don’t want to use. Additionally, the legislation prohibits anti-competitive practices, such as “self-preferencing,” by banning app stores from engaging in behaviors that put their products at an advantage over independent developers and competitors.
The Open App Markets Act is being introduced at a critical global juncture. The EU, UK, South Korea, Australia, India, Japan, and others are advancing regulatory and legislative reforms that hold the potential to make the global app ecosystem fairer and more open. CAF is proud to see America keep stride with the global community to combat this harmful anticompetitive behavior.
Click here for more information about the Open App Markets Act.
To read the full bill text, click here.
CAF Contact
Rick VanMeter
[email protected]