Event Recap: Discussing AI, IoT, SEPs, and more at the Smart Cities Connect Conference
On December 4, 2024, ACT | The App Association participated in the Smart Cities Connect Conference in Austin, Texas. The Smart Cities Connect Conference is the largest gathering of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and services companies working within cities around the globe. Our panel, moderated by Caitlin Irr (App Association), explored the intersection of IoT, artificial intelligence (AI), and standard-essential patents (SEPs) in creating both smarter and greener tech and talent hubs. Our discussion shed light on the [...]
New Digital Rules are Here – and So Are More Compliance Burdens for SMEs
The European Union recently published two new pieces of legislation in the Official Journal of the European Union — the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and the Product Liability Directive (PLD). Together, these regulations create a new framework for digital products, aiming to enhance digital trust and accountability. But for small businesses in the app economy—already navigating a complex web of compliance requirements—these changes introduce even more challenges. Understanding these regulations now is essential to mitigate risk and maintain access to the [...]
Developer Community Spotlight: Q&A with Damián Tochetto
What happens when a small but mighty team of developers steps onto the global stage to talk about the future of technology in Argentina? For The Blue Box, a boutique software company with a passion for transforming ideas into innovative products, this was more than just another panel discussion—it was a chance to spotlight the incredible potential of Argentina’s app economy. The Blue Box’s CEO, Damián Tochetto, recently joined a panel hosted by the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) and the [...]
Event Recap: Discussing the EU Regulatory Landscape at Do iOS Developer Conference
On November 14, 2024, ACT | The App Association participated in the Do iOS Developers Conference in Amsterdam, an inspiring event dedicated to developers and businesses building in the iOS ecosystem. Our panel, moderated by Borbala Szucs-Bartfai, the App Association’s EU policy manager, explored how developers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can navigate the EU’s complex regulatory landscape. Featuring insights from two App Association member company representatives, Donny Wals (DonnyWals.com) and Mitchel Volkering (vaic.at), the discussion shed light on [...]
The District Court’s Ruling Could Threaten the App Economy—Here’s Why It Matters
If you’re a small app developer or just someone who relies on apps for, well, everything, recent developments in the courts should have your attention. A district court’s judgment in the Epic v. Google case—both its findings and the remedies it has imposed—clashes with the realities of the app market. And this isn’t just a concern for ACT | The App Association members—it’s a risk for the app economy as a whole, including consumers. As we highlighted in our [...]
ACT | The App Association Files Amicus Brief in Epic v. Google Case in Support of Google’s Appeal
Today, ACT | The App Association filed an amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Google and arguing the verdict and permanent injunction should be vacated. The court’s judgment threatens not only the App Association’s small business app developer members but also the app economy more broadly and conflicts with today’s commercial realities where the small business developer community leverages app platforms like Google Play to compete and innovate. “The district court’s judgment is [...]