The Fight Against Big Brother. New Petition Aimed to Stop Apple's Unfair Practices

[nickhesson]

A new website has been developed that features a petition against Apple to stop their unfair practices and protect developers, called Petition Apple Competition. The petition was started to lobby the FCC, to intervene on consumers behalf regarding Apple’s monopolistic behaviours in the iPhone Application marketplace. Although Apple has seemed to loosen its grip on what is Approved for the AppStore lately, we all know it's still not quite enough.

"Apple continues to make it more and more difficult for consumers to use an independent marketplace. Apple continues to behave in a controlling and anti-competition nature, such as rejecting apps like PodCaster and MailWrangler which “duplicates functionality”, as well as anti-trust allegations from rejection of apps like GVMobile and other Google Voice apps. Our goal is to inform the FCC of these allegations, so as to further their current investigation, and to take action against Apple, as we believe Apple’s actions are violating consumer rights and core American economic principles."

Petition Apple Competition only launched a few days ago and already has over 1315 signatures. The website makes a lot of valid points and uses some metaphors and similes that most of us would be familiar with, making it quite easy to understand for even the non-developers out there. My favorite being "Apple’s practices and reasoning would be similar to Microsoft preventing you from installing Firefox or Chrome browsers, saying it would “duplicate functionality”. This was actually close to the issues, as Microsoft was sued at one point for pre-installing Internet Explorer and it didn't take much effort to get noticed.

Apple’s argument of protecting users from malware does not hold water. Developer storm8 is being sued for stealing iPhone user’s phone #’s – which made it through Apple’s notorius marketplace. Other ad software embedded in apps track users’ locations. It is obvious that Apple can not protect the user – and it’s up to the marketplace and the user to take action (see Firewall iP – the first iPhone security app). The FCC/FTC/DOJ need to protect user’s freedom of choice, so users can protect themselves from malicious developers.

Whether you are a developer or general user, head on over to the site and sign the petition to support a more open community for Apple's AppStore restrictions. Pass the word along so that our fellow iPhone users know of this petitions existence. There is an FCC deadline for net neutrality that would be great to include this along in with.

Sign The Petition
More Info: Petition Apple Competition

[Rescuer]

you're

[plcrules]

i signed

[awesomeSlayer]

I signed it.

[matthew1111]

I was one of the first 300 to sign it

[gotjpeg]

stop, you do not want to hurt apple, apple is your friend.....

[Lukerclodhopper]

The website makes a lot of valid points and uses some metaphors that most of us would be familiar with, making it quite easy to understand for even the non-developers out there. My favorite being "Apple’s practices and reasoning would be similar to Microsoft preventing you from installing Firefox or Chrome browsers, saying it would “duplicate functionality”.

That's a simile, not a metaphor.

[CabooseLoL]

stop, you do not want to hurt apple, apple is your friend.....

Your kidding right?

Anyways... Signed!

[gotjpeg]

Your kidding right?

Anyways... Signed!

We are the Apple. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

[awesomeSlayer]

We are the Apple. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

We are NOT the Apple. We ARE the consumers of Apple products.

[ddonuts4]

Signed! everyone on this site who sees this will sign it lol. Thats 500,00 signatures!

[Buddy17]

i hate apple, and i'm being completely honest. I love the phone, but HATE the company and its tactics.

[reaves205]

KEEP the FORCE LUKE!!!

[romeo_herman]

I sign already......

[unison999]

Who started this? Credible place?
Sounds like someone is collecting email address to sell...

[confucious]

^ It's sponsored by Rock your Phone so you're probably right. I won't be signing.

[L00i3]

i hate apple, and i'm being completely honest. I love the phone, but HATE the company and its tactics.

L00i3 concurs

[Imahottguy]

Lets be honest, what is this going to do? absolutely nothing

[skeels]

Confucious: That's really sad. You have finally proved your lack of credibility for all of your comments. Thanks!

All - we have 1+ million email addresses from users signing up for a RockID - we don't spam anyone and would have no reason to collect a few more email addresses. (Spamming doesn't help anyone's business!)

Our purpose here is to inform the Federal Government of, what we believe to be, Apple's anti-competitive and anti-trust practices, and to take action.

Imahotguy: You're right! This petition, on it's own, will do nothing. However, we plan to use it amongst other processes to help ensure action on part of us, the consumer, and Apple's competition.

Please - if you feel strongly with the statement of the petition, sign it and tell others. We are not getting a $1 per signature We are trying to show what the interest is for the government to take action. Please help!

[rhekt]

yeah ill be signing as well.