Sats 

Orange for me 😉 that would be great🤪

Grok …

I hear you—Apple’s 30% commission and tight App Store control can feel like a chokehold, especially for platforms like Nostr that thrive on freedom and decentralization. Your frustration about it curbing the free-speech and privacy vibes you love is totally valid. Let’s unpack what’s going on and explore legal avenues that could challenge Apple’s grip, focusing on laws and regulations that might rein them in.

Why Apple’s 30% Fee and Control Feel Like a Freedom Violation

Apple’s App Store policies, including the 30% cut on in-app purchases and restrictions on alternative payment systems, create a walled garden. For Nostr, forcing the removal of zapping (tipping sats via Lightning Network) on iOS apps like Damus killed a feature that embodied financial freedom and direct peer-to-peer exchange—core to Nostr’s ethos. This control can feel like an overreach because:

• Privacy: Apple’s rules often require apps to use its payment system, which can track transactions, clashing with Nostr’s privacy-first approach.

• Free Speech: By controlling what apps can do (e.g., banning zaps or limiting how developers communicate payment options), Apple indirectly shapes what can be said or shared, which can stifle platforms like Nostr that prioritize unfiltered expression.

• Economic Freedom: The 30% fee and bans on external payment links limit how developers monetize, impacting platforms like Nostr that rely on microtransactions like zaps to foster community.

Legal Avenues to Challenge Apple’s Control

Challenging Apple’s dominance involves laws around antitrust, competition, and consumer rights. Here are the key legal frameworks and efforts that could force Apple to back off, based on what’s been happening:

1 Antitrust Laws (U.S.):

◦ Sherman Antitrust Act (Sections 1 and 2): This U.S. law targets monopolistic practices and restraints on trade. Epic Games’ 2020 lawsuit against Apple argued that the App Store’s 30% fee and mandatory in-app payment system were monopolistic, hurting competition. While Epic lost on most counts, the judge ruled in 2021 that Apple’s “anti-steering” rules (banning apps from directing users to external payment methods) violated California’s Unfair Competition Law, forcing Apple to allow developers to link to alternative payment options.

▪ Relevance for Nostr: This ruling could help Nostr apps like Damus inform users about zapping via external Lightning wallets, bypassing Apple’s payment system. However, Apple still charges a 27% commission on external payments in some cases, so it’s not a full win.

▪ Ongoing Efforts: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly investigating Apple’s App Store practices for antitrust violations. A successful DOJ case could force structural changes, like allowing third-party app stores or banning the 30% fee outright.

◦ Open App Markets Act: This bipartisan U.S. bill, supported by tech companies, aims to open iOS to third-party app stores and sideloading, reducing Apple’s control. It hasn’t passed yet, but if it does, it could let Nostr apps operate outside Apple’s rules, preserving features like zapping.

2 State Competition Laws:

◦ The Epic case showed Apple violated California’s Unfair Competition Law with anti-steering rules. Other states could pursue similar claims, arguing Apple’s control over apps like Nostr stifles innovation and consumer choice. For instance, forcing Nostr to remove zaps limits how users can engage in free economic exchange, which could be framed as unfair competition.

3 International Regulations:

◦ European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA): The EU’s DMA, effective in 2024, targets “gatekeepers” like Apple, requiring them to allow alternative app stores, sideloading, and third-party payment systems. In the EU, Apple now permits external payment links with a reduced 10-17% fee, but it still imposes payment processing fees. This could inspire Nostr apps to push for similar freedoms globally or relocate operations to the EU.

◦ South Korea’s Telecommunications Business Act: South Korea passed a law in 2021 banning app store operators from forcing exclusive payment systems. Implementation has been slow, but it’s a model for challenging Apple’s 30% fee.

◦ Relevance for Nostr: These laws could let Nostr apps offer zapping without Apple’s cut in specific regions, preserving the platform’s decentralized spirit.

4 Consumer Protection Laws:

◦ Apple’s policies could be challenged under laws like the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive practices. The FTC has previously settled with Apple over in-app purchases, citing consumer harm. If Nostr users argue that Apple’s removal of zaps deceives them about the platform’s capabilities, it could spark an FTC complaint.

◦ Privacy Angle: Apple’s payment system collects user data, which clashes with Nostr’s privacy focus. Laws like the EU’s GDPR or California’s CCPA could be leveraged to argue that Apple’s control forces apps to compromise user privacy.

5 Class-Action Lawsuits:

◦ Developers and users could band together for a class-action suit, like the 2021 settlement where Apple created a $100 million Small Developer Assistance Fund for apps earning under $1 million annually. Nostr’s community could explore a similar suit, claiming Apple’s policies harm small developers and users by limiting free speech and financial freedom.

Practical Steps to Push Back

While legal battles are one route, here are actionable steps you and your friends could take to pressure Apple, keeping Nostr’s free-speech and privacy ethos in mind:

• Raise Awareness on X and Nostr: Amplify the issue by posting about how Apple’s policies hurt Nostr’s zapping feature. Tag influencers or devs like @fiatjaf or @damusapp to gain traction. X posts show users are already frustrated—keep the momentum going.

• Support Legislative Efforts: Contact U.S. lawmakers to back the Open App Markets Act or similar bills. In the EU, push for stricter DMA enforcement. Grassroots support can tip the scales.

• Join Developer Advocacy Groups: Groups like the Coalition for App Fairness (backed by Epic, Spotify, and others) are fighting Apple’s policies. Nostr devs could join to add a privacy/free-speech angle.

• Explore Workarounds: Some apps, like Netflix, avoid Apple’s 30% fee by directing users to web-based payments without in-app links. Nostr apps could experiment with similar strategies, though Apple’s rules are strict.

• Crowdfund Legal Action: Pool resources with the Nostr community to fund a lawsuit or FTC complaint, focusing on how Apple’s control harms user freedom.

Challenges and Realities

• Apple’s Legal Muscle: Apple’s won most legal battles, like the Epic case, and can afford to drag out fights. Any challenge needs strong backing.

• Global Patchwork: Laws vary by region, so a win in the EU or South Korea might not help U.S. users.

• Nostr’s Niche Status: As a smaller platform, Nostr might struggle to get the same attention as Fortnite or Spotify, so community noise is key.

What Law Could Keep Apple in Check?

No single law guarantees Apple will back off, but a combo of U.S. antitrust enforcement (DOJ probe, Sherman Act), state competition laws, and international regulations (DMA) offers the best shot. The Open App Markets Act, if passed, could be a game-changer by allowing sideloading and third-party stores, letting Nostr apps bypass Apple’s rules entirely. For freedom-focused platforms, framing the fight around privacy and free speech—like how Apple’s policies limit Nostr’s decentralized vision—could rally support.

Next Steps for You

• Chat with Friends: Decide if you want to focus on advocacy (posting, contacting lawmakers) or explore legal routes (joining a class-action or filing complaints).

• Dig Deeper: Want me to research specific laws in your country or check for recent Nostr/Apple updates on X? I can also look into how other apps bypass the 30% fee legally.

• Stay Loud: Keep hyping Nostr’s privacy and free-speech edge—Apple hates bad PR. 😜

What’s your next move? You and your friends planning to stir the pot on X or maybe try a workaround for zapping? Let me know what you’re thinking!

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Watching it live!

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Here it is said!