A Chinese developer has sued Apple, challenging the removal of its Bodyreader app from the App Store in 2020. The company is seeking damages of about $420,000 from the IT giant and also disputes claims that its software product, which helps children correct their posture, was fraudulent.
Image Source: James Yarema/Unsplash
According to Bloomberg, the Beijing Intellectual Property Court accepted the lawsuit from Beijing Bodyreader Technology. Let’s remember that this is the second time that Apple is forced to defend the policies of its app store in court, while the Bodyreader case echoes a complaint from the creator of the Fortnite game, Epic Games. Although Apple won a lawsuit regarding monopoly control over payments in games, it was still obliged to allow links to alternative payment options.
Earlier this year, a Chinese consumer accused the company of monopoly and market dominance, but Apple managed to win the case. However, this is the first time the company has faced accusations from Chinese developers regarding its standard practices in the App Store.
It is worth noting that China remains a strategically important market and production base for Apple, although the company has already begun producing gadgets in other countries, particularly in India. However, Apple’s position in China is under some pressure. Local brands like Huawei are gradually taking share of the premium smartphone segment. Additionally, Apple has clashed with major social networks such as ByteDance and Tencent over payment options on Douyin and WeChat.
Beijing Bodyreader demands an apology from Apple and a court recognition of its actions as monopolistic, and also insists on user access to third-party application stores and permission to use external links. Closed hearings in the Bodyreader case began last Thursday and could end as soon as this week, and the court’s decision could lead to greater scrutiny by Chinese authorities of Apple’s role in the country’s mobile ecosystem.
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