US Senators Push For American Version of EU's Digital Markets Act (appleinsider.com)
- Reference: 0178184616
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/06/25/214209/us-senators-push-for-american-version-of-eus-digital-markets-act
- Source link: https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/06/25/bipartisan-open-app-markets-act-resurrected-to-challenge-apples-app-store-control
> The Open App Markets Act seeks to do a number of things, including:
> - Protect developers' rights to tell consumers about lower prices and offer competitive pricing;
> - Protect sideloading of apps;
> - Promote competition by opening the market to third-party app stores, startup apps, and alternative payment systems;
> - Make it possible for developers to offer new experiences that take advantage of consumer device features;
> - Give consumers greater control over their devices;
> - Prevent app stores from disadvantaging developers; and
> - Establish safeguards to preserve consumer privacy, security, and safety.
>
> This isn't the first time we've seen this bill, either. [3]In 2021 , Senators Blumenthal, Klobuchar, and Blackburn had attempted to put forth the original version of the Open App Markets Act.However, the initial bill never made it to the floor for an office vote. Thanks to last-minute efforts by lobbying groups and appearances from chief executives, the bill eventually stalled out.
>
> While the two bills are largely similar, the revised version introduces several key differences. Notably, the new version includes new carve-outs aimed at protecting intellectual property and addressing potential national security concerns.There's also a new clause that would prohibit punitive actions against developers for enabling remote access to other apps. The clause addition harkens back to the debacle between Apple and most game streaming services -- though in 2024, Apple loosened its App Store guidelines to allow cloud gaming and emulation.
>
> There are a few new platform-protective clauses added, too. For instance, it would significantly lower the burden of proof for either Apple or Google to block platform access to a third-party app.Additionally, it reinforces the fact that companies like Apple or Google will not need to provide support or refunds for third-party apps installed outside of first-party app marketplaces.
The full bill can be found [4]here .
[1] https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/6/technology/blackburn-blumenthal-lee-klobuchar-and-durbin-introduce-bipartisan-antitrust-bill-to-promote-app-store-competition
[2] https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/06/25/bipartisan-open-app-markets-act-resurrected-to-challenge-apples-app-store-control
[3] https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-lawmakers-introduce-bill-rein-apple-google-app-stores-2021-08-11/
[4] https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/services/files/B5B0EB16-4D86-495C-ADFC-29988A1251C2
Let the sausage making begin... (Score:2)
A bill is just the beginning. The same special interests will again attempt to derail such legislation from passing.
Time for a handango revival (Score:2, Interesting)
You know, the place that had all the Palm and WinCE and and BlackBerry and even some J2ME crap back before Apple decided to show the world how to be an anticompetitive jerk.
Re: Time for a handango revival (Score:3)
In their defence, it did help a lot with app discovery. Of course, Google could have helped, but never seemed to, much like with PWAs...instead they seemed just join in, more or less. Other search engines haven't seemed help either.
For every device, or only phones? (Score:5, Interesting)
Will this open up every device that is locked down to only one software store, or only smartphones? This could be applied to TVs, some car entertainment units, set top boxes or similar like Fire Stick, Roku, also game consoles, to name a few.
Do GDPR first! (Score:3)
But of course, it's easy to pound on Apple and Google. Shutting down the wider surveillance economy would gore a lot more oxen... THOSE do much more damage to actual end users than the Apple/Google duopoly. Apple & Google arguably hurt the big players like Epic, but as far as I'm personally concerned, that's A Feature.
Apple and wechat et al (Score:2)
How is it that apple allow wechat and alipay, and other "superapps" to run their own platforms, seemingly independent of the Apple app store?
Good luck! (Score:2)
Yeah right. Europe isn't in nearly as severe a state of regulatory capture as the US is. This was possible in Europe because they still have a thin veneer of democracy about them. The United States has devolved dramatically and any delusions you might have about the regulators saving you from hostile or abusive corporate behavior should be put to bed right now with the same intravenous solution they use on a dog with terminal cancer.
Execution (Score:2)
If someone were to execute every senator promoting this bullshit, I would not shed a tear.
It's about time. (Score:2)
Nothing more to say. These closed systems that force you to funnel your sales to be eaten up by the party that created the device are seriously stupid. Car manufacturers once tried that with tires. The government came in fast and stopped it. They should do the same here.
Re: It's about time. (Score:3, Insightful)
This is what our Congressmen/women should be doing... structuring markets to unleash the creative forces of competition while retarding rent-seeking extraction.
Re: It's about time. (Score:2)
That is what they should be doing, but their pockets won't get lined by minimum wage employees. Trump isn't getting a "free" jet from those nice bums over by the 316 interchange. The joke of a federal employment status check system, which was just for show, was watered down by the money of the employers of illegal immigrants flooding their congressmen and women.
Let's fix the lead in line for the article.... (Score:2)
U.S. lawmakers have reintroduced the bipartisan Open App Markets Act, aiming to curb Apple and Google's control over
mobile app stores by promoting competition, supporting third-party marketplaces and sideloading, and safeguarding developer rights.
U.S. lawmakers have reintroduced a bipartisan bill to let them tax, regulate, and help lobbyists keep billing lobbying hours.....
Re: (Score:1)
> This is what our Congressmen/women should be doing...
I can think of one or two things that require their more immediate attention...
Like growing a spine and preventing the nation's complete downfall into authoritarianism. But hey, you do you.