5 ms·

Is this actually from the EFF or is the EFF Action Center a change.org-style site where anyone can submit petitions? I ask only because the text of the letter

Is this actually from the EFF or is the EFF Action Center a change.org-style site where anyone can submit petitions? I ask only because the text of the letter isn't particularly well written and contains some glaring mistakes: "Wrap every app in the Apple store with unnecessary DRM" (emphasis mine). Apple isn't the government, and no one is compelled to enter into a contract with them. The EFF's reason for removing their Action Center app from the App Store are outlined in this petition, which is ironic considering the app itself is a web app made native with the Ionic framework[2]. Nothing in Apple's terms prevents the EFF from releasing the app on the web (nor do they have to agree to any of Apple's terms to release a web app). [1]: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/12/sorry-iphone-users-apples-dev-agreement-means-no-eff-mobile-app-iphone https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/12/sorry-iphone-users-app... [2]: https://github.com/EFForg/actioncenter-mobile https://github.com/EFForg/actioncenter-mobile

soapdog 12y ago
Maybe their app is taping on some Cordova API that is not available for the web. The only platform exposing similar APIs for hosted pages is Firefox OS and even so it doesn't expose sensitive APIs to hosted apps. There is another issue with hosted apps which is the discoverability of such apps. People on iOS tend to believe that things need to be on the App Store...
nhangen 12y ago
You're right, and it also lacks the professionalism that is found in most EFF campaigns. Our company donates to EFF, so you could say that we support their efforts, but this particular campaign is garbage.
izacus 12y ago
Just because they're not the goverment, it doesn't mean their business values and practices are above reproach, criticism and complaints. Remember, corporations ARE ALLOWED to be criticized for their business practice choices and that's OK. Really.
- mcphage 12y ago
  > Remember, corporations ARE ALLOWED to be criticized for their business practice choices and that's OK. Really. Sure they're allowed to be criticized. But that doesn't make every criticism good or well-founded, and this one is neither.
  - olefoo 12y ago
    Given their market power and prominence; you could make a strong case that unduly restrictive covenants in the contract language are in fact against the interests of a society that values freedom and equity. Many of the arguments on this page in defense of Apple could equally well be applied to a defense of debt slavery or indentured servitude. Apple taking a third share of every creators work may have been reasonable when they were a small part of the market; but is less so when they are able to turn their dominance in the smart phone market into outsized profits and onerous terms in the media distribution market.

soapdog 12y ago

Maybe their app is taping on some Cordova API that is not available for the web. The only platform exposing similar APIs for hosted pages is Firefox OS and even so it doesn't expose sensitive APIs to hosted apps. There is another issue with hosted apps which is the discoverability of such apps. People on iOS tend to believe that things need to be on the App Store...

nhangen 12y ago

You're right, and it also lacks the professionalism that is found in most EFF campaigns. Our company donates to EFF, so you could say that we support their efforts, but this particular campaign is garbage.

izacus 12y ago

Just because they're not the goverment, it doesn't mean their business values and practices are above reproach, criticism and complaints. Remember, corporations ARE ALLOWED to be criticized for their business practice choices and that's OK. Really.

mcphage 12y ago
> Remember, corporations ARE ALLOWED to be criticized for their business practice choices and that's OK. Really. Sure they're allowed to be criticized. But that doesn't make every criticism good or well-founded, and this one is neither.
- olefoo 12y ago
  Given their market power and prominence; you could make a strong case that unduly restrictive covenants in the contract language are in fact against the interests of a society that values freedom and equity. Many of the arguments on this page in defense of Apple could equally well be applied to a defense of debt slavery or indentured servitude. Apple taking a third share of every creators work may have been reasonable when they were a small part of the market; but is less so when they are able to turn their dominance in the smart phone market into outsized profits and onerous terms in the media distribution market.