Apps are Businesses, not Items on the Shelf
For users, it’s easy to think of an app store as a big box retailer. You browse the shelves, find the app you want, and make your purchase. Unfortunately, policymakers are beginning to look at app stores this way too. This is a problem because developers know that apps aren’t just products on a shelf; they are businesses all their own. Late last year, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled against Google in Epic [...]
Turning Trade Challenges into Strategic Opportunities
European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), already facing a high number of regulatory obstacles in recent years, now face further uncertainties connected to evolving approaches to trade. Yes, these conflicts have also created opportunities, but EU policymakers are now seeking to ease the burden of existing regulations, reconsidering existing trade dependencies, and exploring new and more diversified partnerships. There’s a growing focus on strengthening Europe’s internal capacity to support innovation. For many SMEs, this new landscape could open doors [...]
TPPF Comes Up Short on Understanding Mobile Apps
This video by David Dunmoyer regarding Texas HB 4901 contains statements that are demonstrably false and significantly mislead the public about the legislation's impact on app developers, particularly small businesses. Betsy Furler, from Houston, Texas and head of App Association member company For All Abilities–a person with decades of experience as a speech pathologist supporting students with disabilities and tireless champion of the power of technology to change lives—had it right in her testimony: HB 4901 imposes significant mandates [...]
European Commission Action Under DMA Needs to Drive Investment and Improvement in European Innovation Ecosystem
(Brussels) 23 April 2025 – Today, the European Commission announced fines totaling €700 million related to investigations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Missing from the Commission’s announcement were any details on how these fines will be used to support more innovation from Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). “€700 million is going directly into the coffers of the European Commission without any details on what that money will be used for,” said Mike Sax, founder of ACT | The App Association. [...]
The General-Purpose AI Code of Practice – Are SMEs Being Left Behind?
Introduction As Europe continues to shape the future of artificial intelligence, the EU is expected to publish the final draft of the General-Purpose AI (GPAI) Code of Practice (Code) in May. While the EU AI Act introduces binding legal obligations for both high-risk and general-purpose AI systems, it also advocates for the creation of a voluntary code of practice. The Code represents a key voluntary tool to align early with the AI Act’s goals. At ACT | The App [...]