Chairman of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense,
The Developers Alliance writes to provide the following input in response to the Public Hearing
on Competition in Digital Ecosystems of Mobile Devices (iOS and Android) before the
Administrative Counsel for Economic Defense (CADE).
Introduction:
The Developers Alliance is the leading advocacy organization for app developers worldwide. It
advocates on behalf of developers, the companies they lead, and the industries that depend on
them. We help policymakers and stakeholders understand the specific needs of the developer
workforce and advocate for policies that responsibly advance the broader tech sector.
The Developers Alliance acknowledges the fundamental principle that competition benefits
consumers and drives innovation. The Alliance also acknowledges that the current app
ecosystem works extremely well for developers and consumers worldwide, including in Brazil.
The Google Play Store and Android operating system allow developers of all sizes to easily and
inexpensively create and distribute apps to customers worldwide. There is also robust
competition between app stores and operating systems offered by Google and Apple, which
helped bring a supercomputer into the pocket of consumers worldwide.
Altering the mobile app industry in Brazil impacts publishers, developers, and consumers who
benefit from the already competitive space. We urge you to carefully consider the following
before making changes to the current app ecosystem:
Android works well for developers in Brazil and worldwide:
Android is a free and open-source mobile operating system that encourages developers of all
sizes to create and distribute apps. Its “write once, run anywhere” structure means that when
developers create an app on the Android platform, it is automatically compatible across all
Android-compatible devices worldwide. Developers save time, money, and resources because
they only have to write the code once, and the app is instantly available to a range of
consumers across all Android products. This predictable and unified environment reduces
developers’ barriers to entry and the costs of innovating.
Once registered on Google Play, developers have access to a wide range of additional services
that go far beyond simply creating and distributing apps. Google Play provides support to
developers, including creating helpful tools and services to grow their business, and features and controls that keep users safe online. The value that Android and Google Play provide
developers of all sizes is huge, and works very well for Brazilian developers.
Another prime benefit of the Play Store is the trust consumers have that the apps they download
are safe. To be on the Play Store, app developers must comply with Google’s strict privacy and
security guidelines, and in return, consumers from around the world are motivated to download
from the Play Store because they know the apps are safe. The more consumers trust that the
apps on the Play Store are safe, the more consumers will download them. This is a win-win
situation.
Android is beneficial for consumers:
Users benefit from Google’s high privacy and security standards. Google constantly updates its
privacy requirements, creating a safe space for users to download trusted apps. Users can trust
the apps from the Play Store because Google holds its app catalog to extremely high standards
when it comes to safety and security.
Users also benefit from having access to a wide and diverse selection of apps on the Play
Store, not just from Brazilian developers, but from developers worldwide.
Competition does exist in the ecosystem:
When the Developers Alliance first launched in 2012, the app ecosystem was a chaotic
environment that confounded app publishers. Every phone manufacturer and mobile carrier had
its own app store. This fractured, decentralized system was a nightmare for publishers and
developers. The cost to bring an app to dozens of app stores and ensure interoperability
between device types was a nightmare.
Through competition and in service of both developers’ and consumers’ interests, this
ecosystem naturally consolidated into the system we have today. It has never been easier for
someone to create an app in their garage and bring it to hundreds of millions of people. Google
and Apple have built a framework with high consumer trust, where people trust that what they
are downloading from these stores is legitimate and won’t steal their bank account information
or identity. This is why the leading animation app is from a small publisher based out of Miami
and not an offering from Microsoft or Adobe.
Healthy competition exists in the app ecosystem and benefits both the consumers and
developers. Android and Google Play face intense competition with iOS and Apple’s exclusive
App Store. They compete for developers and users, which motivates both Google and Apple to
constantly innovate and improve while also maintaining competitive prices.
Conclusion:
The Developers Alliance strongly urges Brazil to carefully evaluate the current app ecosystem
and fully understand the immense value it brings to developers and consumers, and the robust
competition that exists between different platforms and operating systems. We also recommend
that Brazil avoids putting forth regulations that would alter the current app ecosystem, as these
changes would harm consumers, hinder innovation, and create unnecessary barriers to success
for app developers.
We appreciate this opportunity to weigh in on important issues in Brazil.
