Jamal Al-Farouq Congress members Gus Bilirakis and Jan Schakowsky, who serve on the House Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee, have addressed a letter to Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, seeking detailed information and documentation regarding Apple’s policies on blockchain technology, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and distributed ledger technologies within the iOS App Store.
Their primary concern revolves around the potential negative impact of Apple’s current policies, which they fear may hinder innovation and impede the progress of American technology in the fields of blockchain and NFTs. The representatives suggest that Apple’s “walled garden” approach might restrict the development of applications using these emerging technologies, posing a risk to the growth of American companies in this sector. Furthermore, they assert that Apple might be prioritizing its own profits over the interests of blockchain-related apps by implementing guidelines that reduce the functionality and utility of such applications.
As an example of this issue, Bilirakis and Schakowsky refer to the incident involving Coinbase Wallet, where Apple enforced policies that disabled NFT transactions in the app’s iOS version. This action necessitated all blockchain-related fees to be processed through Apple’s in-app purchase system, which incurs a significant 30% charge on each transaction. However, Coinbase Wallet could not comply with this requirement due to technical constraints, leading to a dispute with Apple.
The representatives also mention the case of Axie Infinity, a popular play-to-earn game that had to launch a limited version of its app on iOS, omitting core NFT functionality, and remained inaccessible to U.S.-based users.
Bilirakis and Schakowsky emphasize the importance of Congress fully understanding Apple’s App Store guidelines and the potential implications on innovation and American technological leadership. They advocate for a level playing field within the industry to foster American ingenuity and advancement in blockchain and NFT technologies.
Apple’s strict blockchain rules, announced in October, prohibit apps from using their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, including crypto and NFTs. Additionally, any NFT sales offered through these apps are required to be processed through Apple’s in-app purchase system, with no alternative purchasing mechanisms allowed.
Overall, the representatives seek public input and opinions on Apple’s blockchain and NFT policies to better comprehend the broader sentiment on this matter. They encourage individuals to share their thoughts in the comments section below the article.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Blockchain-NFT policies.
What is the purpose of the letter sent by Representatives Bilirakis and Schakowsky to Apple?
The purpose of the letter is to seek information and documents regarding Apple’s policies on blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and distributed ledger technologies within the iOS App Store. The representatives are concerned that these policies might limit innovation and American technology leadership in these emerging areas.
Why are Bilirakis and Schakowsky concerned about Apple’s policies?
Bilirakis and Schakowsky are worried that Apple’s “walled garden” approach and guidelines may hinder the development of apps using blockchain and NFT technologies. They fear that this could impede innovation from American companies and have a negative impact on the growth of these technologies in the United States.
Can you provide an example of how Apple’s policies affected a specific app?
Yes, one example mentioned in the text is the case of Coinbase Wallet. Apple enforced policies that disabled NFT transactions in the app’s iOS version, requiring all blockchain-related fees to go through their in-app purchase system, which charged a 30% fee on each transaction. Coinbase Wallet could not comply with this requirement, leading to a dispute with Apple.
What is the significance of the issue with Axie Infinity?
Axie Infinity, a popular play-to-earn game, had to launch a limited version of its app on iOS, excluding core NFT functionality and remaining unavailable to U.S.-based users. This highlights the potential limitations imposed on apps dealing with blockchain and NFTs due to Apple’s policies.
What are the objectives of Bilirakis and Schakowsky regarding Apple’s policies?
The representatives aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of Apple’s App Store guidelines and their potential impact on innovation and American technological leadership. They seek to create a level playing field within the industry to support American ingenuity and advancements in blockchain and NFT technologies.
1 comment
Bilirakis & Schakowsky callin out apple’s tight crypto rules! they fear stiflin dev of blockchain apps & hurtin US innovation. #letfreedomring