Apple Flexes Muscle as Quiet Power Behind App Group (bloomberg.com) 12
The App Association brands itself as the leading voice for thousands of app developers around the world. In reality, the vast majority of its funding comes from Apple. From a report: The tech giant isn't a member of the association. But it plays a dominant behind-the-scenes role shaping the group's policy positions, according to four former App Association employees who asked not to be named discussing internal matters. In fact, critics note, the association's lobbying agenda tracks closely with Apple's -- even when it's at odds with app developers, the companies that make the individual games and programs that run on Apple's iPhone and other devices. The group, known as ACT, says it's not beholden to Apple, but confirmed that it derives more than half its funding from the company. The former employees say the actual percentage is much higher. The relationship between Apple and ACT illustrates how big companies quietly pour money into outside groups that promote their agenda in Washington. ACT representatives regularly testify in Congress, file court briefs in defense of Apple's positions and host annual "fly-in" meetings for developers with lawmakers. Rick VanMeter, a former congressional aide who is the head of rival developer group Coalition for App Fairness, said ACT's purported representation of app developers is deceptive, given its relationship with Apple.
Be careful who you climb into bed with (Score:3)
Actually, there's nothing wrong with a large company funding an organization. They're free to fund whomever they wish, just like anybody. It's really up to the organization to make it clear to its membership where its financial priorities lie.
Re: (Score:3)
I think you meant to say that there is nothing illegal in it. "Wrong" is more complicated. It can be seen as bribes, or hiding the real origin of the opinions given by a supposedly independent party.
Bias? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
1. stop using monospace fonts in your comments, it instantly tags you as an attention-seeking whore.
2. especially stop using "smart quotes" in your comments, as it makes your monospace font horseshit even harder to read, and tags you as an incompetent moron.
Basically you've gone out of your way to self-out as an incompetent attention-seeking moronic whore. Well done.
Welcome to Lobbying 101 (Score:3)
The NRA may claim to represent gun owners but they really represent gun manufacturers and retailers. Most lobby groups that claim to represent a broad group of stakeholders are just fronts for a small group that supplies most of the funding but doesn't want to draw attention to itself.
Re: (Score:2)
The parallels to the NRA's astroturfish structure were my first thought as well.
Corruption in action (Score:1)
Ethics be damned, let's control the market for our own selfish needs, screw the public, if they're too stupid to realize they're being manipulated, that's just more undeserved and needless profits for us already entitled upper class shareholders and executives.
Proof of stake (Score:1)
Isn't this the equivalent of proof-of-stake? After all, the ones with the biggest stake has the most votes.
Re: (Score:1)
Isn't this the equivalent of proof-of-stake? After all, the ones with the biggest stake has the most votes.
But this is a 51% attack, the majority is owned by one stakeholder. What Apple says, goes.