Fed Up With Apple's Policies, App Developers Form a 'Union' (wired.com)

Even as Apple has addressed some of the concerns outlined by iOS developers in the recent years, many say it's not enough. As the iOS App Store approaches its tenth anniversary, some app developers are still arguing for better App Store policies, ones that they say will allow them to make a better living as independent app makers. On Friday, a small group of developers, including one who recently made a feature-length film about the App Store and app culture, are forming a union to lobby for just that. From a report: In an open letter to Apple that published this morning, a group identifying themselves as The Developers Union wrote that "it's been difficult for developers to earn a living by writing software" built on Apple's existing values. The group then asked Apple to allow free trials for apps, which would give customers "the chance to experience our work for themselves, before they have to commit to making a purchase."

The grassroots effort is being lead by Jake Schumacher, the director of App: The Human Story; software developer Roger Ogden and product designer Loren Morris, who both worked for a timesheet app that was acquired last year; and Brent Simmons, a veteran developer who has made apps like NetNewsWire, MarsEdit, and Vesper, which he co-created with respected Apple blogger John Gruber.

Comments

Marketing

[Thelasko]

Don't call it a union. The republican political machine will try to destroy it. Call it a trade group, and fund political candidates that will fight for protections for app developers. It's a much easier path that can get support from both sides of the aisle.

Re:idiots

[llZENll]

You are correct that most smartphones are Android, however you are gravely mistaken about mobile economies. Apple accounts for over 65% of all mobile revenue in the world, the reason is simple, Android users are poorer, and more likely to root their device and steal everything. I'm not saying this is good or bad, they are simply facts.

https://techcrunch.com/2018/01...

Good for them

[rsilvergun]

I always wondered why techies don't organize. In America We've been getting screwed since 2000 when the outsourcing started. And offshore I see guys working 16 hours a day 6 days a week (7 during crunch time). It's not like we don't all have the internet.

Re:What leverage?

[squiggleslash]

If they're not making enough money from app sales - which is their complaint then withdrawing from the app store isn't going to hurt them more than it hurts Apple.

because unlike an employee union - you can't just find another employer

That's... not how unions work or why they exist. Traditionally they've existed precisely because employers have monopsonies on employment for the workers concerned. If there was no monopsony, the employees wouldn't need the union, they could just hop onto a rival employer.