The App Developer Who Cried Antitrust
Another day another developer claiming that Apple’s app store is anticompetitive. This time the app in question is Hey Calendar. Now I’m not exactly sure what’s going on here but it appears to be that the app hit one of the many rules the app store has in place. As Apple Insider reports:
He says an Apple representative told him that the app doesn’t “do anything,” and should feature an in-app purchase to enable full functionality. Without it, it would be ineligible for download.
Based on this description I think the app guideline being violated here is 4.2 Minimum Functionality:
Your app should include features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website. If your app is not particularly useful, unique, or “app-like,” it doesn’t belong on the App Store. If your App doesn’t provide some sort of lasting entertainment value or adequate utility, it may not be accepted. Apps that are simply a song or movie should be submitted to the iTunes Store. Apps that are simply a book or game guide should be submitted to the Apple Books Store.
Now 4.2 is a bit of a weird rule. What counts as ‘minimum functionality’ varies from reviewer to reviewer. I’m guessing that this particular reviewer decided that an app where you couldn’t do anything without an account and no obvious way to make an account does…
