A new bill in the North Dakota Senate could force Apple to allow iPhone owners to download applications and use alternative payment systems in the app. The far-reaching bill would prevent companies like Apple and Google from using developers only on their app stores and payment systems.
As explained by The Bismarck Tribune (via The edge), the bill contains three restrictions for so-called “platforms for the distribution of digital applications.” The language is clearly aimed directly at Apple and its various App Store policies. According to the bill, these platforms can not:
- “Requires a developer to use a digital application distribution platform or digital transaction platform as the exclusive way to distribute a digital product.”
- “Requires a developer to use a payment system in the application as the exclusive way to accept payment from a user to download a software application or purchase a digital or physical product through a software application.”
- “Revenge on a developer because he chose to use an alternative application store or payment system for applications.”
Apple has already testified against the bill, with Erik Neuenschwander, privacy software manager, saying that this combination of restrictions’ threatens the iPhone as you know it ‘and’ undermines the privacy, security, safety and performance designed by iPhone. ”
Neuenschwander also added that the bill ‘will require Apple to allow bad apps in the App Store, despite the company’s working hard to keep it out’.
But what’s important to keep in mind is that this is only a state bill and only affects the business of the App Store in North Dakota. That said, it could set a precedent for other states to introduce similar bills – or it could serve as the backbone for similar legislation at the federal level.
The vocal Apple critic and co-founder of Basecamp, David Heinemeier Hansson, testified in favor of the bill and posted on Twitter that it represents the “first real, concrete legislative proposal I have seen and which gives me hope that technological monopolies will not rule the world forever.”
Finally, the chairman, Senator Jerry Klein, said during the hearing that work still needed to be done on the bill, and that no action would be taken yet.
FTC: We use revenue to earn automatically affiliate links. More.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news: