The App Association, represented by its president Morgan Reed, has issued a statement regarding the recent introduction of the App Store Freedom Act. This legislative proposal was put forward by Representative Kat Cammack from Florida's 3rd District.
Morgan Reed expressed concerns about the implications of this bill for small businesses within the app economy. He emphasized the crucial role that curated online marketplaces (COMs), such as app stores, play in supporting these businesses. According to Reed, COMs offer immediate access to global markets and consumers, provide built-in consumer trust, and allow developers to focus on core business aspects by offloading overhead costs.
Reed highlighted a disparity between large tech companies and smaller businesses when it comes to leveraging the benefits provided by app stores. "Large tech companies that can afford a $7-8 million Super Bowl ad want this bill because they don’t need the benefits app stores provide," he stated.
Reed argued that instead of aiding small businesses, the App Store Freedom Act could potentially harm them by forcing app store owners to relinquish quality control measures. "By forcing app store owners to abandon quality control, consumers and small businesses are left to fend for themselves," he warned.
He concluded with a call for policymakers to concentrate on bolstering the American app economy rather than enacting proposals that might destabilize it: "Instead of strengthening small business prospects, this bill undermines trust and stability."