The day started with jb55 (npub1xts…kk5s) sharing screenshots of a notice he received from Apple stating that Damus would be removed from the App Store in 14 days due to Apple’s claims that #zaps are in violation of their policy on in-app purchases. In Apple’s notice they said that tips and donations, even if optional, must use “in-app purchase” if they are associated with receiving digital content, and that zaps allow for this to take place outside of the in-app purchase mechanism.
Damus will be removed from the app store in 14 days, apple says zaps are not allowed on their platform because they *could* be used by content creators to sell digital content. This is right before I’m about to give my talk at the oslo freedom forum on how decentralized social networks with lightning integration are bringing financial freedom to the masses... pretty sus… 😕
This would be a watershed moment: If people can’t transact freely p2p on their platform, this has huge implications for the entire ecosystem of apps with lightning integration and v4v.
Users quickly jumped to point out the similarities between zaps and other tipping features in apps such as Twitter and Fountain App.
Zaps on Twitter goodnostr:note1dalefunu0lhss9tzfndezwrwuvh82605epv6p4lzw29pc5swp8rser29t2
Zaps on Damus bad
#[1] #FuckApple
Long time bitcoiners shared flashbacks to when Apple previously banned bitcoin wallet apps several years ago:
Did you really expect they changed? https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2014/02/06/apple-removes-blockchain-bitcoin-wallet-apps-from-its-app-stores/nostr:note1j94zpductm95f9rxltt94tykl0ln60jqdr6fzeyhxuzqvgsxkerqdd0hp3
Many on Nostr began calling for a complete boycott of Apple over the issue, and others called for Damus and other clients to take the progressive web app approach to avoid Apple’s restrictions. Still others were looking for a path forward so Apple users would still have access to native Nostr clients. NVK (npub1az9…m8y8) suggested that Damus “should keep the app in the store without zaps while the battle rages. The more users Damus has the more bargaining power you get.” Will replied, “That’s the plan for now.”
I think #[0] #[1] should keep the app in the store without zaps while the battle rages.nostr:note1jhk4wukga8xnp73q7szck2mph634gcm5nvg7de6lwyd230ydq5vqqln9hf
The more users Damus has the more bargaining power you get.
The shocking news spread quickly even outside of Nostr, including on Twitter and in tech publications:
Seriouslynostr:note19smf3nfun5aj0m3y97vs7076mxpz3sdrym2jm9dr7tk2289e4ygqku0ssf
https://www.theblock.co/post/234392/apple-damus-app-removal-warning
In a tweet tagging Apple and CEO, Tim Cook, jack (npub1sg6…f63m) said, “This seems to be a misunderstanding by @apple of how this feature works and what it's for. It's a critical part of the future of the internet. It has the capacity to bring people around the world into the economy without the traditional gatekeepers. Please reconsider @tim_cook.”
https://twitter.com/jack/status/1668648607661056000
Will shared that Apple contacted him to discuss the issue in more detail, and was ultimately told that, “Damus can keep the zap button on the profile but not notes. It is considered ‘selling digital content’ if its on notes.”
Apple has contacted me and has scheduled a call to discuss this in more detailnostr:note1cmykkjkvc7mg642gxpexyt9rpvr55cskyj3ny7rz8vl75vvuud0q8xlunk
Jack took to Twitter again saying, echoing the words of many other users, that “This is still incorrect @apple. Tipping on posts is not selling digital content. It’s a form of feedback. Why limit people sending bitcoin to each other? This is our one opportunity to build a truly global payment protocol for the internet (which would benefit your company immensely). @tim_cook”
https://twitter.com/jack/status/1668711207686094849
News of Apple’s move against Damus continued to spread, catching the eye of Elon Musk, who also tweeted his criticisms of Apple’s policy in defense of Damus saying, “This is not a winning scenario.”
👀
Many who are active in #bitcoin and #Nostr development have provided suggestions as to how Damus could implement zaps while hopefully steering clear of violating Apple’s policies and removal from the App Store.
⚡️ #[1] #[2]nostr:note1k9vcjaangvuw5x66drt8pr2y9ww9cdauy6kx5rr0gq4qqla9d5ssjegn2v
At this time no specific changes have been announced for Damus, however Will stated that, “The number of people who contacted me today offering support (even from within apple) has been absolutely staggering. There are nostriches *everywhere*. We are going to win.”
quotingThe number of people who contacted me today offering support (even from within apple) has been absolutely staggering. There are nostriches *everywhere*. We are going to win.
note1xal…l2wj