Unofficial iOS app store accused Apple of monopolizing the App Store
The creator of the unofficial Cydia digital content store, which distributes apps for jailbroken iOS devices, has filed a lawsuit against Apple. In it, the tech giant is accused of anti-competitive behaviour and abuse of dominance in promoting its own App Store.
The claim came from Cydia founder Jay Freeman, who launched the platform in 2007, even before Apple introduced the App Store to the general public. Among other things, the document states that Apple forces users to turn exclusively to the App Store to download applications.
The author of the lawsuit also points out that Apple is a monopoly when it comes to distributing applications for iOS. ” If it weren’t for Apple’s anticompetitive behaviour and the illegal monopoly on the distribution of iOS apps, users could choose their own iOS app provider,” the statement said.
After the launch of the App Store in 2008, the unofficial Cydia store became a way for users of jailbroken iPhones to install unapproved Apple software. The current lawsuit mentions that early iPhones were also limited in functionality and came with “ only a few Apple apps, ” and did not support the installation of third-party software and add-ons.
It is worth noting that Apple’s strict control over the applications published in the App Store has positive aspects. This activity makes the iOS platform more secure from hackers and more secure for users than the popular open-source Android operating system.
