Musi, a YouTube wrapper app, has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Apple following its removal from the App Store on September 24th. The Manitoba-based company claims the removal was unjustified and violated Apple's Development Agreement terms.

The app enabled users to interact with YouTube content through an enhanced interface, offering access to YouTube's music library, including live recordings. Musi generated revenue through full-screen silent ads and a paid ad-free tier.

Key points of the dispute:

• YouTube's legal concerns date back to 2015
• In 2021, YouTube alleged Musi violated terms by:
  • Accessing non-public interfaces
  • Using YouTube for unauthorized commercial purposes
  • Selling ads on YouTube video pages
• August 2023: Apple received a formal complaint from YouTube citing IP rights infringement
• September 2023: Apple removed Musi from App Store despite the company's attempts to address concerns

Musi claims the removal has caused significant financial and reputational damage. The company is seeking damages and an injunction to restore the app to the App Store platform.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between platform owners and third-party apps that repurpose content. Musi never released on Android due to similar disputes with Google, making the App Store removal particularly impactful for the company's business model.

The lawsuit remains ongoing as Musi continues to challenge Apple's decision, arguing that the removal was abrupt and lacking proper justification under their developer agreement terms.

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