FOIA denial proves FTC checking Apple's iOS blocks

The FTC has indirectly confirmed an investigation into Apple's iOS SDK rules as it has denied a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the complaint. Officials exempted all of Adobe's 189-page document from the openness demand by Wired as its publication could "reasonably be expected to interfere" with ongoing cases. The agency didn't directly acknowledge the case or provide details.

The complaint was made by Adobe after Apple banned cross-compiling apps for submission to the App Store. Apple has insisted that it doesn't want dependence on outside tools as they could lead to developers waiting on a third-party's updates regardless of how much Apple advances the platform on its own. The iPhone creator has previously pointed out that Adobe's dependence on outside tools not only stalled the arrival of Creative Suite for Intel but led it to only just produce Cocoa-based code with CS5.

Adobe, however, has noted that Apple's rules conveniently make cross-platform development difficult. As developers can't write a mobile app once using Flash CS5 and expect to reach iOS devices, they often need to spend money and time on separate development tools to address iPhones and iPads in addition to Android and other platforms. Wired to produce its iPad magazine had to use a workaround after Adobe's tablet magazine tools were invalidated by the sudden iOS SDK change.

Apple has come under increasing scrutiny in many areas of its business, such as its music deals and e-book publishing agreements.

By Electronista Staff

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