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Iphone Music Software Apple

Musi Fans Refuse To Update iPhones Until Apple Unblocks Controversial App (arstechnica.com) 103

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Who up missing Musi?" a Reddit user posted in a community shocked by the free music streaming app's sudden removal from Apple's App Store in September. Apple kicked Musi out of the App Store after receiving several copyright complaints. Musi works by streaming music from YouTube -- seemingly avoiding paying to license songs -- and YouTube was unsurprisingly chief among those urging Apple to stop allowing the alleged infringement.

Musi was previously only available through the App Store. Once Musi was removed from the App Store, anyone who downloaded Musi could continue using the app uninterrupted. But if the app was ever off-loaded during an update or if the user got a new phone, there would be no way to regain access to their Musi app or their playlists. Some Musi fans only learned that Apple booted Musi after they updated their phones, and the app got offloaded with no option to re-download. Panicked, these users turned to the Musi subreddit for answers, where Musi's support staff has consistently responded with reassurances that Musi is working to bring the app back to the App Store. For many Musi users learning from others' mistakes, the Reddit discussions leave them with no choice but to refuse to update their phones or risk losing their favorite app.
The app may remain unavailable for several months as the litigation unfolds. "After Apple gave in to the pressure, Musi sued (PDF) in October, hoping to quickly secure an injunction that would force Apple to reinstate Musi in the App Store until the copyright allegations were decided," reports Ars. "But a hearing on that motion isn't scheduled until January, making it appear unlikely that Musi will be available again to download until sometime next year."

Further reading: Google, Apple Drive 'Black Box' IP Policing with App Store Rules

Musi Fans Refuse To Update iPhones Until Apple Unblocks Controversial App

Comments Filter:
  • by sarren1901 ( 5415506 ) on Wednesday November 20, 2024 @06:48PM (#64961107)

    This application, Musi, allows the user to stream music, for free, by essentially streaming the music from a youtube link. Obviously, if the music is copyrighted, you would be receiving a copyright stream that you haven't paid for. I'll go out on a limb here and say, youtube probably has permission to have music videos of copyrighted work on their site and likely pay royalties to do so.

    Musi is likely not paying anyone for anything and neither are Musi users.

    Now, Apple has decided to remove this app from the app store because they don't want to deal with copyright infringement laws. Sounds like a fair response. Seems, if you update your iphone, you lose access to the app. Since people love their i-trash and their i-trash closed garden, this is essentially what they signed up for. To be told by Apple which applications they are allowed to run.

    It's pretty comical to be mad at Apple but I imagine Apple could be held liable for allowing Musi in their store since apparently is an application meant to commit copyright infringement.

    All and all, I would say there's nothing to see here. You got mad iphone copyright infringers threatening to weaken their devices security so they can keep getting "free" music.

    This does of course illustrate why walled garden's are bad for user choice but once again, Iphone users signed up for this.

    • What's the difference if I listen to these same streams on Youtube, or using an app?
      • by bartoku ( 922448 )

        I would guess that Youtube has an agreement with the copyright holder and is not violating the copyright by streaming the data. But Musi does not have permission and is bypassing the Youtube interface, violating the copyright holder's claim to be able to control the streaming of the data?

        From a practical stand point, Youtube sells ad space in its app that pays for the servers and compensates the copyright holder?

      • What's the difference if I listen to these same streams on Youtube, or using an app?

        I’m willing to bet Musi has one hell of an ability to block the advertised answer to your question. That’s the difference.

      • Itâ(TM)s stealing. Justify if you must but it is stealing
        • by Ksevio ( 865461 )

          Stealing implies something is taken, this is just copyright infringement

          • Stealing implies something is taken, this is just copyright infringement

            Sigh. Not This Again. . .

            Stop with the Infantile Sophistry. Please.

            • by Ksevio ( 865461 )

              Copyright lasting forever is already unfair. People/corporations shouldn't get a government enforced monopoly basically forever, that doesn't encourage new creation.

              Corporations hate the idea of competition and the public domain so they push gullible people to believe that committing copyright infringement is like stealing a car

              • Copyright lasting forever is already unfair. People/corporations shouldn't get a government enforced monopoly basically forever, that doesn't encourage new creation.

                Corporations hate the idea of competition and the public domain so they push gullible people to believe that committing copyright infringement is like stealing a car

                Offtopic much?

                • by Ksevio ( 865461 )

                  It was in response to someone calling copyright infringement stealing so that's pretty solidly on topic

                  • It was in response to someone calling copyright infringement stealing so that's pretty solidly on topic

                    But TFA was about certain people resisting iOS updates because they were afraid of losing access to an App that Apple Removed from the App Store pursuant to Federal Law.

                    Whining about the general merits and concepts of Copyright itself here is, at best, a Strawman Argument; therefore it is, by definition, Off-Topic.

                    • by Ksevio ( 865461 )

                      Ah you must be new to the internet, I can explain:

                      The articles posted here tend to be a "starting point" for discussions. People will comment on them and there will be replies that will discuss those topics.

                      For example, someone might post a concern about copyright infringement on an article about an app that lets users listen to music for free and that thread could then be discussing the merits of copyright. If someone posted about puppies, that would be off-topic.

                      It can be a bit confusing at first but yo

    • by Rinnon ( 1474161 )

      I would say there's nothing to see here

      The only thing I disagree with about your post is that this "news" article isn't newsworthy enough to have been worth the time it took for you to write it.

    • I'll go out on a limb here and say, youtube probably has permission to have music videos of copyrighted work on their site and likely pay royalties to do so.

      I would not go too far out on that limb because YouTube is one the most copyright-violating websites in the history of the world. And I am talking all the way back to biblical times too.

      The vast majority of YouTube songs are up-loaded by people who say no copyright intended or some such thing,

      Thus it is balls out move by YouTube, although I guess the

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Senshi ( 10461927 )
      One of Apple's top accomplishments is pulling the wool over customers' eyes. Like using the term artificial intelligence which is obviously tech companies' attempts to fool customers. If such artificial intelligence really exist, it should be independence with ability to think and reproduce on their own. So correct term should be automaton industry, they still could call it AI tho. It's easier to con a person than telling a person that he or she has been conned, Mark Twain.
    • All and all, I would say there's nothing to see here. You got mad iphone copyright infringers threatening to weaken their devices security so they can keep getting "free" music.

      Oh, you think there’s nothing to see here, but just wait until you see how all these mad iPhone users get even by downloading the latest iPhone hack next week. That’ll teach ‘em not to try and help secure devices!

      Damn right I brought extra popcorn..

    • by sjames ( 1099 ) on Thursday November 21, 2024 @12:25AM (#64961607) Homepage Journal

      Actually, the courts are still deciding if the app infringes or not. If the court finds that Musi is not infringing, Apple may have liability as well. Had they maintained status quo and looked to the courts for direction, they would have less liability.

      • by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

        Actually, the courts are still deciding if the app infringes or not. If the court finds that Musi is not infringing, Apple may have liability as well. Had they maintained status quo and looked to the courts for direction, they would have less liability.

        Chances are, no, Apple won't face liability.

        Apple did not remove the app because it infringed copyright. Apple removed the app because they received numerous DMCA requests to take down the app. As per the DMCA, that action shields Apple from the consequences

        • by sjames ( 1099 )

          They received ZERO DMCA requests to remove the app. A DMCA request is an assertion that the thing itself belongs to you. The copyright of the app is not in question.

          What Apple received was requests from 3rd parties asking them to pull the app.

          • They received ZERO DMCA requests to remove the app. A DMCA request is an assertion that the thing itself belongs to you. The copyright of the app is not in question.

            What Apple received was requests from 3rd parties asking them to pull the app.

            77866

            From TFS:

            "Apple kicked Musi out of the App Store after receiving several copyright complaints."

            Those "3rd Parties"? Perhaps they were the actual Copyright Holders?

            Sounds like DMCA requests to me!

            • by sjames ( 1099 )

              I think copyrights are bad.

              There, I made a copyright complaint. I did NOT make a DMCA complaint though.

              DMCA complaints can be made by a copyright holder to someone who is hosting the protected content.

              • I think copyrights are bad.

                There, I made a copyright complaint. I did NOT make a DMCA complaint though.

                DMCA complaints can be made by a copyright holder to someone who is hosting the protected content.

                And that seems to be what any reasonable person would conclude was done.

                But yet, you insist on "debating" on a six-year-old's level.

                This is getting tedious. . .

                • by sjames ( 1099 )

                  You seem quite desperate to not be wrong. What copyrighted content do you believe Apple was hosting that drew a DMCA complaint?

      • Actually, the courts are still deciding if the app infringes or not. If the court finds that Musi is not infringing, Apple may have liability as well. Had they maintained status quo and looked to the courts for direction, they would have less liability.

        Apple has a simple rule: They don't get involved in any copyright disputes. And their rules say they can refuse to do business with anyone. If YouTube told them musi does copyright infringement then Apple removes musi. If musi takes youtube in court and proves this was all lies, then youtube has to pay damages (like loss of income) and it goes up on the store again.

        There was a case not long ago where someone wanted to put GPL licensed software on the App Store and the copyright holder (GPL software alway

        • by sjames ( 1099 )

          Of course, by doing that, Apple was a contributory infringer on the publisher's legitimate license.

          And actually you CAN legally sell Free software as long as you honor all parts of the license. Of course, the first buyer is free to also start selling the Free software and undercut your price.

          • Of course, by doing that, Apple was a contributory infringer on the publisher's legitimate license.

            By doing what, exactly?

            So anxious to blame Apple for anything, you can't even compose a coherent, self-contained, Post!

            • by sjames ( 1099 )

              By assisting the author's attempt to violate the licence legitimately held by the person who put the app up on the app store.

              • By assisting the author's attempt to violate the licence legitimately held by the person who put the app up on the app store.

                WTF are you even saying?

                Pretzel Logic, much?

      • Actually, the courts are still deciding if the app infringes or not. If the court finds that Musi is not infringing, Apple may have liability as well. Had they maintained status quo and looked to the courts for direction, they would have less liability.

        Not true; since Apple is the sole arbitor of whether a particular App is available on their Private App Store, there is a more solid case to be made for Contributory Negligence (at the very least!) on Apple's (Deep Pocketed) Part, if Apple left the App "up" while In Controversy; particularly DMCA-style Controversy.

        Apple is acting in Good Faith here.

        • by sjames ( 1099 )

          It is unclear if, absent court direction, they have any duty to prevent the use of an app that might or might not be used for copyright infringement.

          As a public entity, they are not allowed to make completely arbitrary decisions about access.

          • It is unclear if, absent court direction, they have any duty to prevent the use of an app that might or might not be used for copyright infringement.

            As a public entity, they are not allowed to make completely arbitrary decisions about access.

            A Publicly-Held Corporation is not the same as a Government Entity.

            There is no "Prior Restraint" here.

    • Does Apple make it abundantly clear in its advertising for the iphone that they might remove software from people's phones without asking permission and making it clear what will happen? Unless they do, iphone users do not actually sign up for it, because they may reasonably not know about it.
    • I'll go out on a limb here and say, youtube probably has permission to have music videos of copyrighted work on their site and likely pay royalties to do so.

      More complicated than that. If the app is streaming a Youtube video rather than YT Music then it's not a case of having a license or paying royalties, it's a case of advertising revenue. The bypassing of advertising revenue is the Google considers off brand Youtube players a breach of the Terms of Use.

      The complex part comes with the companies going after such services under the "copyright" banner, including services like youtube-dl which we've covered here before. It's an interesting case from a legal persp

    • My understanding is that youtube pays the copyright owners with advertising revenues. if Musi is able to skip/avoid the ads, then no royalties are paid.
    • by keltor ( 99721 ) *
      Google Store removes apps too FYI AND since Android 13, Android can remove apps even if they are installed outside of the store including various forms of pirating that has been used to "obfusticate" the app. (Not sure about if you don't have the Google Play Store at all, but at that point you're not actually using "Android".)
  • typical (Score:2, Interesting)

    by ne0n ( 884282 )
    This is always going to be an Apple issue. Whether the holdouts get a new iPhone or not, the problem will keep happening, apps will get banned for no good reason, and iPhones will always be at the mercy of a whimsical giant that doesn't give a flying fuck about their owners' wants or needs.

    Meanwhile, Android users have a choice of Spotube [f-droid.org], InnerTune [f-droid.org], Harmony [f-droid.org] and Bloomee [github.com].
    • This is always going to be an Apple issue. Whether the holdouts get a new iPhone or not, the problem will keep happening, apps will get banned for no good reason, and iPhones will always be at the mercy of a whimsical giant that doesn't give a flying fuck about their owners' wants or needs.

      Meanwhile, Android users have a choice of Spotube [f-droid.org], InnerTune [f-droid.org], Harmony [f-droid.org] and Bloomee [github.com].

      Bullshit.

      See, literally, the Post directly above yours:

      https://mobile.slashdot.org/co... [slashdot.org]

  • Musi sued in October, hoping to quickly secure an injunction that would force Apple to reinstate Musi in the App Store..

    So, let me get this straight. Musi streaming music illegally from YouTube, files a lawsuit to demand Apple allow them to continue their illegal behavior in Apples backyard because Apple stopped them on behalf of the actual legal content owner?

    Since when is Blatantly Fucking Stealing a reasonable corporate charter? The hell exactly are we calling a legitimate business these days? Is Musi Too Big To Fail or some shit? Taxpayers didn’t get the memo on that one.

    Meanwhile, Grandma still has a record fro

    • So before litigation on this matter is concluded, you have decided Musi is streaming music illegally from YouTube?

      I must have missed the part where there was a finding of guilt. Can you help me out by pointing to where I can find it?

      • So before litigation on this matter is concluded, you have decided Musi is streaming music illegally from YouTube?

        I must have missed the part where there was a finding of guilt. Can you help me out by pointing to where I can find it?

        I see you must be new to the Internets.

        There is an implied "In My Not So Humble OPINION" in front of Every. Forum. Posting.

        Got it? Good!

    • Musi sued in October, hoping to quickly secure an injunction that would force Apple to reinstate Musi in the App Store..

      So, let me get this straight. Musi streaming music illegally from YouTube, files a lawsuit to demand Apple allow them to continue their illegal behavior in Apples backyard because Apple stopped them on behalf of the actual legal content owner?

      Since when is Blatantly Fucking Stealing a reasonable corporate charter? The hell exactly are we calling a legitimate business these days? Is Musi Too Big To Fail or some shit? Taxpayers didn’t get the memo on that one.

      Meanwhile, Grandma still has a record from back in her Metalli-Napster days..

      Pre-cisely!!!

  • It's not "Musi Fans" it's Apple's software and hardware customers who have paid for their hardware and software...
    "Who refuse to upgrade" meaning that if I buy something I HAVE TO upgarade it even if the upgrade DEGRADES what I bought it for? Hell no.

    There's a big problem on how this is being put.

    The issue isnt with "Musi Fans" at all. It's with Apple REQUIRING their prepaid customers to DOWNGRADE the software so they CAN NO LONGER [newly] USE IT AT ALL EVER AGAIN."

    Who's the bag guy here, genius?

    FAPPLE.

    • It's not "Musi Fans" it's Apple's software and hardware customers who have paid for their hardware and software...
      "Who refuse to upgrade" meaning that if I buy something I HAVE TO upgarade it even if the upgrade DEGRADES what I bought it for? Hell no.

      There's a big problem on how this is being put.

      The issue isnt with "Musi Fans" at all. It's with Apple REQUIRING their prepaid customers to DOWNGRADE the software so they CAN NO LONGER [newly] USE IT AT ALL EVER AGAIN."

      Who's the bag guy here, genius?

      FAPPLE.

      What in the ever-loving FUCK are you Blathering about?!?

      Begone, Hater!

  • App store guidelines:

    5.2.2 Third-Party Sites/Services: If your app uses, accesses, monetizes access to, or displays content from a third-party service, ensure that you are specifically permitted to do so under the service’s terms of use. Authorization must be provided upon request.

    If your apps uses another service and violates the terms of that service, no App Store for you.

    Further to that, to make to abundantly clear:

    5.2.3 Audio/Video Downloading: Apps should not facilitate illegal file sharing or include the ability to save, convert, or download media from third-party sources (e.g. Apple Music, YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo, etc.) without explicit authorization from those sources. Streaming of audio/video content may also violate Terms of Use, so be sure to check before your app accesses those services. Authorization must be provided upon request.

    Downloading audio or video from YouTube without explicit authorization is prohibited.

    • Being disallowed by a guideline does not make an activity illegal.
      • It's breach of contract, so civil law vs. criminal. This still counts as 'illegal'.

      • No, but it also means Apple has the right to remove the app from the App Store, and there isn't really any grounds for an injunction.

        I wouldn't be surprised if the judge laughs in their face and award costs to Apple.

    • Do you know how long sections 5.2.2 an 5.2.3 have been in place? If not, I'll try to figure it out. Curious if these restrictions were there when Musi was first added to the app store or if the guidelines were updated in response to the presence of Musi or similar apps. Of course I also don't understand the point of this since, if you want to listen to music on YouTube, you could just listen to music on YouTube!
      • You can't listen to YouTube on a phone in the background with the official app unless you pay for YouTube premium.

        5.2 has been there since at least 2018

        Before that, as far as Wayback machine goes, in 2014

        8.5
        Apps may not use protected third party material such as trademarks, copyrights, patents or violate 3rd party terms of use. Authorization to use such material must be provided upon request

    • App store guidelines:

      5.2.2 Third-Party Sites/Services: If your app uses, accesses, monetizes access to, or displays content from a third-party service, ensure that you are specifically permitted to do so under the service’s terms of use. Authorization must be provided upon request.

      If your apps uses another service and violates the terms of that service, no App Store for you.

      Further to that, to make to abundantly clear:

      5.2.3 Audio/Video Downloading: Apps should not facilitate illegal file sharing or include the ability to save, convert, or download media from third-party sources (e.g. Apple Music, YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo, etc.) without explicit authorization from those sources. Streaming of audio/video content may also violate Terms of Use, so be sure to check before your app accesses those services. Authorization must be provided upon request.

      Downloading audio or video from YouTube without explicit authorization is prohibited.

      Exactly Correct!

  • just post it on the Epic Store and i'll get it from there
  • You decided to buy a personal computer which is intended to work against your interests. Any time there is a conflict between what you want and what Apple wants it is directed to serve Apple and deny you.

    That's what you knowingly bought.

    Now there's a conflict (you want the Musi app; Apple doesn't want to send it to you) and the personal computer is correctly fucking you over, as you intended.

    What's the problem? It's degrading you as you wished.

    You imagine life as a person who has only one foot, and it sound

    • Or..

      You bought an appliance (that technically happens to be implemented as a personal computer) with the knowledge that what you can do with it is governed by rules

      If something you've been doing with that appliance turns out to not abide by those rules, you simply get on with your life, as it's really not that important.

      • Or..

        You bought an appliance (that technically happens to be implemented as a personal computer) with the knowledge that what you can do with it is governed by rules

        If something you've been doing with that appliance turns out to not abide by those rules, you simply get on with your life, as it's really not that important.

        Ding, Ding, Ding!!!

        We have a WINNER!!!

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