Rave says Apple trapped iPhone users to push SharePlay, Apple cites porn
Messenger and social streaming app Rave has filed a lawsuit against Apple for distorting competition by unilaterally removing the company’s app from the App Store.
Rave is an Ontario-based cross-platform service that allows users to watch movies, series, and TV shows together when they’re not in the same room. The app synchronizes streaming services such as Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube, and lets users talk to each other via chat and voice. Rave is compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, and has 225 million total downloads.
Recently, Apple decided to remove the Rave app from the App Store. According to the developer of the social streaming app, this “unilateral and anticompetitive decision” was made because Rave’s cross-platform experience threatened Apple’s walled iOS ecosystem.
Furthermore, Rave alleges that Apple removed its app from the App Store to monopolize the market for smartphone co-viewing by restricting iPhone users to its own, iPhone-exclusive co-viewing service called SharePlay. By eliminating a competitor, Apple weakens the freedom of choice to interact with non-Apple devices or services.
“Apple’s pretextual removal of Rave from the App Store has harmed consumers significantly by limiting choice and effectively preventing Apple customers from co-viewing and connecting with non-Apple customers. Apple’s actions denied users access to a product they enjoy, disrupted the communities built on Rave, and impaired Rave’s ability to compete fairly based on the strength of its product,” Michael Pazaratz, CEO of Rave, said in a statement.
An Apple spokesperson speaks of “baseless allegations.”
“The Rave app was removed following repeated guideline violations, which we communicated to the developer on multiple occasions. These violations included hosting and sharing pornographic and pirated content, and user complaints regarding CSAM [child sexual abuse material, ed.],” Apple told Reuters.
Rave is seeking to have its app reapproved for the App Store and recover damages resulting from its “arbitrary and anticompetitive removal.”
Rave is suing Apple in Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United States.
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