Developer files antitrust complaint after Apple rejects COVID game
A German developer and lobbyist has filed a complaint with the EU, claiming that both Apple and Google are unfairly rejecting apps with coronavirus themes.
Developer's rejected coronavirus app was accepted after being renamed
As Apple faces one lawsuit claiming it wants a monopoly on contact-tracing apps, another developer is accusing both Apple and Google of unfair competition. The new complaint says it is an antitrust issue that the companies are rejecting any COVID-related apps, including games.
German developer Florian Mueller -- who is better known as a lobbyist and blogger on legal issues -- reports that he submitted an app named Corona Control Game in November 2020. Both the Apple App Store, and Google Play Store, rejected it.
It's not clear whether either company formally told Mueller why it was rejected. However, Apple has stated before that it will not allow any COVID-19 apps on the App Store unless they are officially-approved ones from governments and health authorities.
According to Reuters, Google has responded that, too, it will only approve COVID-19 apps that are authorized.
"The stated goal of 'ensuring the credibility of health and safety information' does not justify blanket rules based on authorship or merely the combination of a broad category and a topic," argues Mueller in his complaint.
Mueller has now filed complaints about this with the US Department of Justice, and also antitrust authorities in Australia, the UK, the Netherlands and Germany. A further complaint is expected to be filed in India.
In the meantime, Mueller reports that he has renamed the app to "Viral Days," and that it has been accepted by both stores.
Developer's rejected coronavirus app was accepted after being renamed
As Apple faces one lawsuit claiming it wants a monopoly on contact-tracing apps, another developer is accusing both Apple and Google of unfair competition. The new complaint says it is an antitrust issue that the companies are rejecting any COVID-related apps, including games.
German developer Florian Mueller -- who is better known as a lobbyist and blogger on legal issues -- reports that he submitted an app named Corona Control Game in November 2020. Both the Apple App Store, and Google Play Store, rejected it.
It's not clear whether either company formally told Mueller why it was rejected. However, Apple has stated before that it will not allow any COVID-19 apps on the App Store unless they are officially-approved ones from governments and health authorities.
According to Reuters, Google has responded that, too, it will only approve COVID-19 apps that are authorized.
"The stated goal of 'ensuring the credibility of health and safety information' does not justify blanket rules based on authorship or merely the combination of a broad category and a topic," argues Mueller in his complaint.
Mueller has now filed complaints about this with the US Department of Justice, and also antitrust authorities in Australia, the UK, the Netherlands and Germany. A further complaint is expected to be filed in India.
In the meantime, Mueller reports that he has renamed the app to "Viral Days," and that it has been accepted by both stores.
Comments
Mueller really should know better.
As to the insensitivity part, it seems like a double standard. When I search for “virus game” the first result I get is for “Infection Bio War” with “Spread the Plague!” as it’s tag line. How is it that spreading the plague is deemed fine but if the developer of that game changed it to spreading COVID-19 it would be rejected (theoretically)? Will it be OK in 5 years to have a COVID-19 themed game?
It’s at least a little odd that Apple rejected Mueller’s COVID-19 app which, from a quick glance, is about preventing the spread, wearing masks, quarantining, etc, but the above app is geared at spreading disease and is apparently OK.
Regardless of his motives he's getting some press and notice.
A conflict of interest is when you owe a duty to two people, and some scenario arises that requires you to choose one, thereby violating the duty owed to the other.
Lobbying a lawmaker to change a law to benefit you personally or a client is not a conflict of interest.
It's like all those people who play Surgeon Simulator and then try to practice medicine !
(Disclaimer: If Nintendo re-branded Dr. Mario I would probably buy it instantly.)
[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/17/germans-keep-refusing-quarantine-could-put-detention-centres/
Violent games are usually age restricted.