It’s been quite the day for #Nostr and nostr:npub18m76awca3y37hkvuneavuw6pjj4525fw90necxmadrvjg0sdy6qsngq955 in particular due to Apple’s threatened removal from the App Store. Would love to crowd source a recap here. I’m going to recount as much as I can, and tag some notes, but please add in the replies if I missed anything.

The day started with nostr:npub1xtscya34g58tk0z605fvr788k263gsu6cy9x0mhnm87echrgufzsevkk5s sharing screenshots of a notice he received from Apple stating that Damus would be removed from the App Store in 14 days due to Apple’s claims that #zaps are in violation of their policy on in-app purchases. In Apple’s notice they said that tips and donations, even if optional, must use “in-app purchase” if they are associated with receiving digital content, and that zaps allow for this to take place outside of the in-app purchase mechanism.

nostr:note14vfvfnt8ynlp4qj2fcdt5t28judjypdnth83swmdhlythryw2seq2nuuh6

Users quickly jumped to point out the similarities between zaps and other tipping features in apps such as Twitter and Fountain App.

nostr:note1est6lpxkjzq2fxn2saldqnh88l0zfngjhas2j6sudeqk7q8tk3dsg9ug0d

nostr:note1dalefunu0lhss9tzfndezwrwuvh82605epv6p4lzw29pc5swp8rser29t2

Long time bitcoiners shared flashbacks to when Apple previously banned bitcoin wallet apps several years ago:

nostr:note1pz2x0zgeagvnxvmuxe55cpu77a8q9rx4ffc4gwhxhk5xmwa6dx0qlt2l7n

nostr:note1j94zpductm95f9rxltt94tykl0ln60jqdr6fzeyhxuzqvgsxkerqdd0hp3

Many on Nostr began calling for a complete boycott of Apple over the issue, and others called for Damus and other clients to take the progressive web app approach to avoid Apple’s restrictions. Still others were looking for a path forward so Apple users would still have access to native Nostr clients. nostr:npub1az9xj85cmxv8e9j9y80lvqp97crsqdu2fpu3srwthd99qfu9qsgstam8y8 suggested that Damus “should keep the app in the store without zaps while the battle rages. The more users Damus has the more bargaining power you get.” Will replied, “That’s the plan for now.”

nostr:note1tadcvtn7z4nrf6ca07vzexzfwhmsxrpzajupk6wtmgtle5nll80qycvxr2

nostr:note1jhk4wukga8xnp73q7szck2mph634gcm5nvg7de6lwyd230ydq5vqqln9hf

The shocking news spread quickly even outside of Nostr, including on Twitter and in tech publications:

nostr:note1efeh2vwdrdudsj4rt9czrwxdjkjr4s3wayknjj9t9mv6yqjlsn8qzmg58a

nostr:note19smf3nfun5aj0m3y97vs7076mxpz3sdrym2jm9dr7tk2289e4ygqku0ssf

In a tweet tagging Apple and CEO, Tim Cook, nostr:npub1sg6plzptd64u62a878hep2kev88swjh3tw00gjsfl8f237lmu63q0uf63m said, “This seems to be a misunderstanding by @apple of how this feature works and what it's for. It's a critical part of the future of the internet. It has the capacity to bring people around the world into the economy without the traditional gatekeepers. Please reconsider @tim_cook.”

https://twitter.com/jack/status/1668648607661056000

Will shared that Apple contacted him to discuss the issue in more detail, and was ultimately told that, “Damus can keep the zap button on the profile but not notes. It is considered ‘selling digital content’ if its on notes.”

nostr:note1fxwlxz42an08cgxxmgcjr2wm4ye5dguc7qp7hy5z77xfe6ddvjuspwgj7p

nostr:note1cmykkjkvc7mg642gxpexyt9rpvr55cskyj3ny7rz8vl75vvuud0q8xlunk

Jack took to Twitter again saying, echoing the words of many other users, that “This is still incorrect @apple. Tipping on posts is not selling digital content. It’s a form of feedback. Why limit people sending bitcoin to each other? This is our one opportunity to build a truly global payment protocol for the internet (which would benefit your company immensely). @tim_cook”

https://twitter.com/jack/status/1668711207686094849

News of Apple’s move against Damus continued to spread, catching the eye of Elon Musk, who also tweeted his criticisms of Apple’s policy in defense of Damus saying, “This is not a winning scenario.”

nostr:note1rt5r0lg9jutqxw9lhzwj4p9w65rs68plruz7gcnsq6wydw0nzqes9zca42

Many who are active in #bitcoin and #Nostr development have provided suggestions as to how Damus could implement zaps while hopefully steering clear of violating Apple’s policies and removal from the App Store.

nostr:note1r5zxll4ar3aaywjzuk8yxjfms7tc2pa7vek4v237gu9vqr22caashfermc

nostr:note1k9vcjaangvuw5x66drt8pr2y9ww9cdauy6kx5rr0gq4qqla9d5ssjegn2v

At this time no specific changes have been announced for Damus, however Will stated that, “The number of people who contacted me today offering support (even from within apple) has been absolutely staggering. There are nostriches *everywhere*. We are going to win.”

nostr:note1xalwt9g6frre68zzx6lzzxqn5v5rsgh604vqjatd5txwt6lnd5rsnzl2wj