Rave Sues Apple in Antitrust Case Over App Store Ban on Video App

Rave, a Canadian software firm, has launched an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, claiming the tech giant unfairly removed its video-sharing app from the App Store to crush competition. The suit accuses Apple of prioritizing its own SharePlay feature while sidelining rivals that don’t pay App Store commissions.

Lawsuit Details and Demands

Filed on May 7, 2026, in a U.S. federal court in New Jersey, the complaint seeks the app’s reinstatement and damages in the “hundreds of millions of dollars.” Rave, based in Ontario and founded in 2013, offers a cross-platform app for co-watching videos on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac—still available outside Apple’s ecosystem.

Apple booted the app in 2025, citing “dishonest or fraudulent activity,” but Rave argues this was a cover for protecting SharePlay, launched in 2021, since Rave earns mainly from ads rather than in-app purchases.

Rave CEO’s Statement

Rave CEO Michael Pazaratz stated that Apple’s move “has harmed consumers significantly by limiting choice and effectively preventing Apple customers from co-viewing and connecting with non-Apple customers.” He added it disrupted user communities and Rave’s fair competition.

Broader Context

This case echoes Apple’s ongoing antitrust battles, like the Epic Games “Fortnite” dispute since 2020 over in-app fees, recently remanded by the U.S. Supreme Court. Rave has also filed similar suits against Apple in Canada, Russia, the Netherlands, and Brazil.

Apple has not yet commented on the allegations.