2023-10-13 20:18:27
Despite criticizing the Apple Due to its closed ecosystem and its implications for the metaverse in the future, the Meta may not be as open as it seems. That is, at least, what a situation with a developer involving the exclusivity of an application for the company’s headset showed.
At the end of September, the company launched the third generation of Quest, its new mixed reality headset, during the Meta Connect event. What was not known until then was that, between the product demonstrations, an app for the device called AEI Fitnessdeveloped by Immersive Inc – leadered by Second Elijah — in partnership with the company and the fitness accessories brand Hello Yoga.
AEI Fitness consists of a virtual reality app with avatars of instructors who teach yoga positions, pilates and other well-being techniques. For Meta, it would be a way to mitigate the problem of lack of apps on its virtual/augmented reality platform, adding another option to attract users, except for one detail.
According to the Bloomberg, the software was cut from the event and basically from the company’s projects as a whole. The reason for this change of route was the developer having Started talks with Apple and ByteDance so that your app would also have versions for the companies’ headsets, in addition to being available for Meta Quest.
The punishment imposed by Mark Zuckerberg’s company was severe, including even default. Elijah claimed to have worked exhaustively on the project and that, in the middle of development, Meta decided to cancel development and did not pay him the remainder of the amount agreed to create the app. He had received approx. US$1.5 millionhaving failed to pay US$3.2 million.
Trial once morest Meta
Faced with this situation, the developer sued Meta and Alo, basing its arguments on issues of competition regulation. For him, removing the app from the Meta headset would represent a reduction in innovation, quality and choice, as well as less incentive for competition among the most talented developers and potentially higher prices for VR fitness apps.
In addition to the remainder of the agreed payment, he is requesting, with the action, the payment of US$323 million in antitrust damages, contract violations and other matters. He, however, did not make it clear whether the contract he had with Meta allowed, prohibited or was silent regarding the launch of the app on other platforms, although one can imagine that there was no prohibition, considering the terms of the process.
Among the allegations in the case, Elijah stated that both Apple and Pico, from ByteDance have agreed to release versions of the app for the Vision Pro and the other company’s headset in the coming years. He also said that the VR fitness app market would have a value of US$16.4 billion and it would grow more US$109 billion over the next 7 years, making Meta’s conduct even more serious.
Therefore, for the developer, Meta’s “anti-competitive and abusive” conduct had the objective of destroying its app, considering the company’s importance in the VR app market. According to the lawyer for the company that created the app, the result of the process will determine the future of the creation. Immersive, as remembered by Archyde.comdescribed itself as a newcomer to the VR fitness market.
It is worth remembering that this is not the first time that the Target has been framed due to potentially anti-competitive practices. A Fair Trade Comission (antitrust and market regulatory body in the United States) has already tried to prevent — without success — the company’s purchase of Within Unlimited, who coincidentally also does fitness training. The purchase, however, was made.
The casenumber 5:23-cv-05159-NC, was initiated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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#Meta #defaults #developer #app #Vision #Pro
