Apple confirms Appgratis broke App Store rules as France threatens action

WALLED GARDEN KEEPER Apple has claimed that Appgratis broke its App Store rules prior to its removal from the App Store, as a French minister said she would take the matter to the European Commission.

Earlier this week, Apple removed Appgratis, an application that helps users find other applications, from its App Store. Now Apple has stated which App Store rules Appgratis broke after a French minister in charge of digital economy, Fleur Pellerin, told journalists Apple's move was "extremely brutal" and that she would take the matter up with the European Commission.

Apple confirmed to The INQUIRER that Appgratis violated clause 2.25 and clause 5.6 of the App Store Review Guidelines.

Clause 2.25 says, "Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected." Clause 5.6 says, "Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind."

So it seems that Apple bumped Appgratis for both trying to mimic the App Store and also trying to push advertising to users, or to put it another way, encroach on its own business. However, Pellerin said of Apple, "This behaviour is not worthy of a company of this size."

Pellerin told journalists that certain internet companies had exhibited "repeated abusive behaviour". She then said she would take the matter up with the European Commission, and that European Union member states should look at better ways to regulate digital services.

Apple told The INQUIRER that it was in talks with Appgratis. However given that Appgratis got booted off the App Store, it doesn't seem likely those talks amounted to much, and for Apple and its rival digital content providers, it might result in a spotlight being cast over how it evaluates and treats app developers. -theinquirer.net