Apple is facing a new lawsuit that was filed this Friday by a French open-source software maker that says its launching the lawsuit to get developers better HTML5 support on iOS.
Nexedi filed its lawsuit against Apple in French courts, claiming the current iOS support of HTML5 Web technologies lags behind other platforms because Apple refuses to allow third-party browsers to use anything other than its own Webkit.
In a blog post detailing its reasons for suing Apple, the French company says it considered recommending clients stop using iPhone and iOS altogether if they want better HTML5 support.
Apple has made improvements to browser support in recent years. Third-party apps weren’t even allowed to use Apple’s Webkit until the introduction of iOS 8. Nexedi says Webkit’s library is lagging so far behind the competition though, so Apple should allow browsers powered by the modern Blink library into the App Store.
“We would be delighted at Nexedi to create a Web browser for iOS with better HTML5 support based on a recent version of Blink library. But as soon as we would publish it, it would be banned from Apple’s AppStore,” the company writes on its blog. “Many companies are being hurt by this situation. Some companies have already begged Apple to improve HTML5 support in iOS with little significant results.”
Nexedi says its suing Apple in French court because it is easier in France to get a ruling in favor of small businesses that are being imposed upon by large companies trying to create unbalanced contracts.
Via: Recode
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
7 responses to “French company sues Apple for the good of the internet”
Stupid French!
At what point did Apple ever say it was an open platform…….?
I guess along with 3 day work weeks, they only use their brains 3 days a week also.
You’re honestly defending Apple even on such a subject ?…
You are misusing the term “open platform”. iOS is an OS, it is open to third party devs, so no it’s not a “closed platform” as you may think it is. The problem is Apple doing unfair competition.
Oh and for the french bashing thing…*sigh* Just get your facts straight ;)
And by what “right” does French have to sue? Because they aren’t getting their way? What, will they next riot in the streets like they usually do? French are trashy.
You’re clueless.
Apple needs to have a good excuse for limiting us to one family of browsers. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. It should come out at the trial.
Apple should keep up with it’s technology, it is falling behind badly.
I dont necessarily agree with the lawsuit but Apple has absolutely no reason and no excuse to fall behind in technologies like HTML5 which they once pioneered when Jobs touted about killing flash.
With great popularity comes great responsibility. Step up your game Apple.