Apple Needs to Rescue Developers from Patent Trolls

22.05.2011
Apple iOS app developers are being lawsuits. But, the app developers are simply following the rules that Apple mandated, so ultimately the ball is in Apple's court to find a resolution.

At issue are patents related to the in-app purchasing that Apple requires for apps that sell content or services. Apparently, Apple has , but that licensing doesn't carry through to the app developers.

Lodsys, the company that holds the patents in questions, , "The scope of their current licenses does NOT enable them to provide "pixie dust" to bless another (3rd party) business applications."

Unfortunately, these third-party developers face a Catch-22. With Apple requiring the use of the allegedly patent-infringing technologies in order to get iOS apps approved, and Lodsys suing them or requiring a cut of the revenue, app developers are between a rock and a hard place that could very well squash many of them right out of business.

Sure, an occasional Angry Birds comes along, but the vast majority of iOS apps aren't pulling in millions. Many apps are developed by small businesses or individuals that don't have the financial resources to mount a legal defense. At the same time, most apps also don't generate enough revenue to go around.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) expects Apple to step up and defend developers. An declares, "We've been waiting expectantly for Apple to step up and protect the app developers accused of patent infringement solely for using a technology that Apple required they use in order to sell their apps in Apple's App Store."