App Developer Sues Apple Over Continuity Camera ‘Sherlocking’
▼ Summary
– Reincubate, maker of the Camo app, is suing Apple for alleged anticompetitive conduct and patent infringement.
– The lawsuit claims Apple copied Camo’s technology to create its own Continuity Camera feature after thousands of Apple employees used Camo.
– Reincubate’s CEO alleges Apple initially supported Camo but later undermined it to promote its own platform-tied offering.
– The CEO argues Apple’s actions were not about improving video quality but about protecting its “walled garden” ecosystem.
– The lawsuit raises broader questions about whether developers can innovate on core digital experiences without being copied and excluded by platform owners.
The software company Reincubate has filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of anticompetitive behavior and patent infringement related to its popular Camo webcam application. This legal action centers on Apple’s introduction of its own Continuity Camera feature, which the developer claims is a direct copy of its technology designed to lock users into Apple’s ecosystem. The case highlights the ongoing tension between independent developers and platform owners who can potentially absorb and replicate successful third-party innovations.
Reincubate’s Camo app, first released in 2020, allows users to employ their iPhone or Android smartphone as a high-quality webcam for their Mac or Windows computer. The lawsuit alleges that Apple, after thousands of its own employees used and encouraged the Camo app, later copied the core technology to create its platform-exclusive Continuity Camera feature. According to the legal filing, Apple then used its control over iOS and macOS to disadvantage Camo’s functionality, steering user demand toward its own integrated solution.
Reincubate CEO Aidan Fitzpatrick elaborated on these claims in a public blog post. He stated that Apple was an enthusiastic early supporter during Camo’s beta phase, with widespread internal use and promises of support. Fitzpatrick contends that once the app demonstrated market viability and user appeal, Apple moved to replicate its features across its own device ecosystem. “They took it and built our features into a billion iPhones, Macs, displays, iPads and TVs, while shutting us out,” Fitzpatrick wrote.
The executive expressed initial confusion when Apple launched Continuity Camera, noting that the requirement for a physical mount and device pairing seemed uncharacteristic of Apple’s typical design philosophy. He speculated that the pressures of the pandemic and the shift to remote work might have driven Apple to quickly adopt such innovation. However, Fitzpatrick argues Apple failed to holistically improve its hardware cameras, leaving a gap in quality. “The webcams in many Windows devices still outclass the one in my MacBook,” he noted.
The core allegation is that Apple’s actions were less about improving user experience and more about protecting its closed ecosystem. Fitzpatrick suggests the move was designed to eliminate an interoperable solution that worked across platforms, thereby reinforcing Apple’s “walled garden” and preventing competition. He frames the lawsuit as addressing a fundamental issue for developers: whether there is space to create foundational digital tools, or if they are limited to building isolated cloud platforms or ideas too minor to attract replication by dominant players.
Apple has not yet issued a public comment regarding the allegations. This lawsuit joins a growing list of legal and regulatory challenges Apple faces concerning its App Store policies and its competitive practices with third-party developers.
(Source: The Verge)
