What H-app-ened in the States: A Competition and Privacy Breakdown
ACT | The App Association has historically advocated for our members on privacy and competition legislation at the federal level, but over the last year, a growing number of states have thrown their hat in the privacy and competition ring, with various statehouses introducing their own bills. These bills could have serious implications on tech-driven industries and the global mobile app economy at large, but also for the small businesses we represent. This growing state participation in what some are [...]
NDAA is Not the Way
With only a handful of legislative days left on the calendar, sponsors of the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) and Open App Markets Act (OAMA) desperately seek a way around or through growing opposition to their bills. Even as Sen. John Cornyn, the chamber’s minority whip, said last week that AICOA is a “half-baked idea,” explaining why it doesn’t have the votes to pass, sponsors are likely eyeing a path for it and/or OAMA as an amendment to [...]
ACT | The App Association Statement on the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs) and Innovation Call for Views Executive Summary and Next Steps
ACT | The App Association is pleased that the IPO included the concerns of our members and the challenges they face in the current SEP licensing environment. The process of licensing SEPs is an important issue that not only impacts SME innovation, but also the UK’s ability to compete in an innovation-driven global economy. The App Association wants to see future industrial policy align with the aspirations of our members, through a regulatory framework that rewards their innovations and hard [...]
DSA Explainer
What is the DSA? The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a new law in the European Union (EU) that aims to create a safer online environment by defining clear responsibilities for all online intermediaries and platforms. In short, the DSA will hold search engines, social media networks, and marketplaces accountable for policing content on their sites. The DSA revises the 20-year-old eCommerce Directive which acted as the foundational legal framework for online services in the EU until now. While the [...]
How the European Commission’s Proposed Ecodesign Requirements Could Affect Software Developers
The environmental impacts of the unsustainable consumption of goods and growing amounts of waste are becoming the subject of more and more debate in the EU. In this context, the European Commission wants to improve the sustainability of products that use large quantities of materials, energy, and other resources and cause significant environmental impacts throughout their lifecycle. The App Association fully supports this objective. To achieve this goal, the Commission recently presented a new legislative proposal for a 'regulation on [...]
Reconciling Build Back Better with 5G Investment Goals
ACT | The App Association members strongly support federal policies that encourage the swift deployment of 5G networks. They are the leading edge of the software-driven transformation of core industries like public safety, digital health, and education. The transition to 5G will enable them to reach more patients, teleworkers, students, and first responders faster and with more powerful tools. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) included an unprecedented $65 billion in broadband investment, which we hope will accelerate [...]