SB 113-6: App Store Freedom Act (Passed)

[Mr. Reactionary]

APP STORE FREEDOM ACT

1. As used in this act:

A. App means a software application or electronic service that may be run or directed by a user on a computer or mobile device.

B. App store means a publicly available website, software application, or other electronic service that distributes apps from third-party developers to users.

C. Covered company means the owner or controller of an app store with more than 20 million Atlasian users.

D. Device means a tablet or a smart phone sold in Atlasia and manufactured on or after the date this bill takes effect.

E. Smart phone means an electronic device that combines a cell phone with a hand-held computer, typically offering Internet access, data storage, and text and email capabilities.

F. Tablet means a mobile device that is equipped with a mobile operating system, touchscreen display, and rechargeable battery; and has the ability to support access to a cellular network.

2. It shall be unlawful for any covered company to:

A. require developers to use an in-app payment system owned or controlled by the company as a condition of distribution or accessibility,

B. require that pricing or conditions of sale be equal to or more favorable on its app store than another app store, or

C. take punitive action against a developer for using or offering different pricing terms or conditions of sale through another in-app payment system or on another app store.

D. interfere with legitimate business communications between developers and users, use non-public business information from a third-party app to compete with the app, or unreasonably prefer or rank its own apps, or those of its business partners, over other apps.

3. It shall be unlawful for any commercial enterprise that operates in interstate commerce by manufacturing, programing, selling, or providing communication services to any device to design or program such device in a manner that substantially limits or restricts the interoperability of the device with app stores that are not owned by such enterprise.

4. A violation of this act shall constitute an anti-trust violation.

5. The Attorney General and the FTC may enforce violations of these rules as unfair or deceptive acts prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

6. Regional and State Attorneys General may bring a civil action on behalf of their residents if they have reason to believe that their residents will be adversely affected by a violation of this act.

7. Any person wronged by a violation of this act may bring a civil lawsuit for an injunction or damages and may recover from such person damages for such injury plus $1,000 for each violation for up to five (5) years from any violation.

8. This law shall not preempt or supersede any Regional regulation that is stricter than this act.

9. This act shall take effect forty (40) days from the date of passage.

Sponsor: Westmidlander
Debate on this bill is now open

[Mr. Reactionary]

This bill targets App store monopolies. If I buy a device, I shouldnt be limited in using it because the developer intentuonally limited its software interoperability to trap me into using its App store. Thats anti competitive, monopolistic, and bad for end users.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This has my support.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Cracking down on tech monopolies is based.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Freedom bill, i support this too.

[Enduro]

I motion for a vote as I believe this has most of the Senate's support already.

[Mr. Reactionary]

24 hours to object.

[Mr. Reactionary]

A final vote is now open on this bill until midnight eastern on Tuesday. Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

APP STORE FREEDOM ACT

1. As used in this act:

A. App means a software application or electronic service that may be run or directed by a user on a computer or mobile device.

B. App store means a publicly available website, software application, or other electronic service that distributes apps from third-party developers to users.

C. Covered company means the owner or controller of an app store with more than 20 million Atlasian users.

D. Device means a tablet or a smart phone sold in Atlasia and manufactured on or after the date this bill takes effect.

E. Smart phone means an electronic device that combines a cell phone with a hand-held computer, typically offering Internet access, data storage, and text and email capabilities.

F. Tablet means a mobile device that is equipped with a mobile operating system, touchscreen display, and rechargeable battery; and has the ability to support access to a cellular network.

2. It shall be unlawful for any covered company to:

A. require developers to use an in-app payment system owned or controlled by the company as a condition of distribution or accessibility,

B. require that pricing or conditions of sale be equal to or more favorable on its app store than another app store, or

C. take punitive action against a developer for using or offering different pricing terms or conditions of sale through another in-app payment system or on another app store.

D. interfere with legitimate business communications between developers and users, use non-public business information from a third-party app to compete with the app, or unreasonably prefer or rank its own apps, or those of its business partners, over other apps.

3. It shall be unlawful for any commercial enterprise that operates in interstate commerce by manufacturing, programing, selling, or providing communication services to any device to design or program such device in a manner that substantially limits or restricts the interoperability of the device with app stores that are not owned by such enterprise.

4. A violation of this act shall constitute an anti-trust violation.

5. The Attorney General and the FTC may enforce violations of these rules as unfair or deceptive acts prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

6. Regional and State Attorneys General may bring a civil action on behalf of their residents if they have reason to believe that their residents will be adversely affected by a violation of this act.

7. Any person wronged by a violation of this act may bring a civil lawsuit for an injunction or damages and may recover from such person damages for such injury plus $1,000 for each violation for up to five (5) years from any violation.

8. This law shall not preempt or supersede any Regional regulation that is stricter than this act.

9. This act shall take effect forty (40) days from the date of passage.

[Liminal Trans Girl]

Aye

[Mr. Reactionary]

Aye

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Aye

[Saint Milei]

nay

[Utah Neolib]

Aye

[Enduro]

Aye

[PPT Spiral]

Aye

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

aye

[West_Midlander]

Aye

[PragmaticPopulist]

Aye

[OSR stands with Israel]

Aye

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Aye

[SevenEleven]

Nay.

[FT-02 Senator A.F.E. 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

Aye

[Mr. Reactionary]

Bill passes 13-2-0-3.

[Mr. Reactionary]

APP STORE FREEDOM ACT

1. As used in this act:

A. App means a software application or electronic service that may be run or directed by a user on a computer or mobile device.

B. App store means a publicly available website, software application, or other electronic service that distributes apps from third-party developers to users.

C. Covered company means the owner or controller of an app store with more than 20 million Atlasian users.

D. Device means a tablet or a smart phone sold in Atlasia and manufactured on or after the date this bill takes effect.

E. Smart phone means an electronic device that combines a cell phone with a hand-held computer, typically offering Internet access, data storage, and text and email capabilities.

F. Tablet means a mobile device that is equipped with a mobile operating system, touchscreen display, and rechargeable battery; and has the ability to support access to a cellular network.

2. It shall be unlawful for any covered company to:

A. require developers to use an in-app payment system owned or controlled by the company as a condition of distribution or accessibility,

B. require that pricing or conditions of sale be equal to or more favorable on its app store than another app store, or

C. take punitive action against a developer for using or offering different pricing terms or conditions of sale through another in-app payment system or on another app store.

D. interfere with legitimate business communications between developers and users, use non-public business information from a third-party app to compete with the app, or unreasonably prefer or rank its own apps, or those of its business partners, over other apps.

3. It shall be unlawful for any commercial enterprise that operates in interstate commerce by manufacturing, programing, selling, or providing communication services to any device to design or program such device in a manner that substantially limits or restricts the interoperability of the device with app stores that are not owned by such enterprise.

4. A violation of this act shall constitute an anti-trust violation.

5. The Attorney General and the FTC may enforce violations of these rules as unfair or deceptive acts prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

6. Regional and State Attorneys General may bring a civil action on behalf of their residents if they have reason to believe that their residents will be adversely affected by a violation of this act.

7. Any person wronged by a violation of this act may bring a civil lawsuit for an injunction or damages and may recover from such person damages for such injury plus $1,000 for each violation for up to five (5) years from any violation.

8. This law shall not preempt or supersede any Regional regulation that is stricter than this act.

9. This act shall take effect forty (40) days from the date of passage.

Passed 13-2-0-3 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT