Mobile software developers have complained for years that app stores are taking a cut of the money that should go directly to them. A group of senators heard these concerns and introduced a bill this week. If passed, it would significantly reduce the ability of Apple and Google to control app purchases within their operating systems, and drastically change how mobile software is distributed.The Open App Markets Act is a new bill that would give app developers a lot of rights. This could be a welcome change from Apple and Google handing out 30 percent of their earnings. Below is the full text of the bill. It would require operating system companies to allow third-party apps and app stores.This would prevent companies from preventing developers from telling their users about lower prices of their software than they may find in official app stores. Apple and Google would be prohibited from using non-public information collected through their platforms in order to create rival apps.The legislation will remove coercive anticompetitive walls from the app economy, giving consumers more options and smaller startups tech companies a fighting chance. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D–CT) introduced the bipartisan bill along with Sen. Marsha BLACKBURN (R-TN) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Klobuchar is the Chair of the Senate's Antitrust Subcommittee, while Blackburn and Blumenthal both serve as subcommittee members.Senator Blackburn called Apple's and Googles practices in the app store a direct insult to a fair and free marketplace. Sen. Klobuchar also noted that their conduct raises serious concerns about competition.This bill is based on information gathered earlier this year at the subcommittees hearing about app stores and competition. The hearing heard from Apple, Google, Spotify, Tile, and Match Group. These are three companies that claimed anti-competitive policies in app stores have negatively affected their businesses.The Open App Markets Act must be passed quickly by Congress, Spotify Chief Legal Officer Horacio gutierrez stated about the new bill. We can expect Apple and other companies to continue to change the rules to favor their services, causing more harm to consumers, developers and the digital economy.Coalition for App Fairness, an advocacy group for developers, applauded the bill for its potential for innovation in digital markets. Meghan DiMuzio, executive director of CAF, stated that the bipartisan Open App Markets Act was a step in holding tech companies responsible for practices that restrict competition for developers around the globe and the U.S.Apple reduced its fees for companies earning less than $1million in App Store revenue by dropping them from 30 percent to 15 percent. This was to avoid future regulatory headaches. Google also followed Apple's lead and dropped fees to 15% for developers who earn more than $1 million through the Play Store within a single year. Some developers were critical of the company's practices and saw these changes as a publicity stunt.Developers have complained for years about the high costs of distributing their software via the two largest mobile operating systems in the world. Epic Games allowed Fortnite players to pay Epic directly. This led to a legal battle that could have huge consequences for the mobile software industry. The verdict is expected to be announced later in the year, following a May trial.Google allows apps to be sideloaded and installed on devices other than the Google Play Store, unlike Apple. Epics parallel case against Google revealed documents that Google's Play Stores creator knew sideloading was a horrible experience for users. This is something the company raises when it urges developers to stay with the official app marketplace.This counterargument is that apps are safer and easier to use in official app stores. Apple and Google make large fees to sell mobile software through the App Store or the Google Play Store. However, both companies argue that streamlining apps through these official channels protects users from malware and allows them to quickly update security issues that could compromise user privacy.Adam Kovacevich is a former Google policy executive and leads the tech-backed Chamber of Progress. He called the new bill "a finger in the eye" for iPhone and Android owners.Kovacevich stated that he doesn't see any consumers marching in Washington demanding their smartphones be made dumber. Congress has more important things to do that intervene in multi-million-dollar disputes between businesses.Google's counterargument, at least, has its own counterargument. Android is well-known for its malware. However, most of the malicious software that has made its way onto Android devices via sideloading it through the Google Play Stores front doors seems to be safe.
