Rave Inc., the developer behind the co-viewing application Rave, has initiated antitrust lawsuits against Apple Inc. in five countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Russia. The legal actions challenge Apple’s decision to remove the Rave app from its App Store, a move Rave alleges was aimed at eliminating competition to Apple’s own SharePlay feature.
Founded in 2013 and based in Ontario, Canada, Rave offers a platform that enables users to watch and discuss video content together across multiple operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. The app facilitates real-time shared viewing experiences, allowing users to synchronize video playback and communicate via chat and voice. This cross-platform functionality, according to Rave, posed a threat to Apple’s closed iOS ecosystem, which limits interactions between iPhone users and non-Apple devices or services.
In August 2025, Apple removed Rave from the App Store, citing “dishonest or fraudulent activity.” Rave contends that this justification was a pretext and that the actual motive was to suppress competition to SharePlay, a co-viewing feature Apple introduced in 2021. Rave’s business model, which relies primarily on advertising revenue rather than in-app purchases, did not generate commission revenue for Apple, further positioning it as a competitor to SharePlay. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/rave-files-antitrust-lawsuit-against-apple-over-removal-of-videosharing-app-4669306?utm_source=openai))
Michael Pazaratz, CEO of Rave, stated, “Apple’s pretextual removal of Rave from the App Store has harmed consumers significantly by limiting choice and effectively preventing Apple customers from co-viewing and connecting with non-Apple customers.” He added that Apple’s actions “denied users access to a product they enjoy, disrupted the communities built on Rave, and impaired Rave’s ability to compete fairly based on the strength of its product.” ([cdn.saverave.com](https://cdn.saverave.com/press/Rave_Press_Release_EN.pdf?utm_source=openai))
Beyond the App Store removal, Rave alleges that Apple began blocking its Mac application, falsely labeling it as malware. Users attempting to open the app received messages stating, “‘Rave.app’ was not opened because it contains malware.” Rave asserts that this designation was unfounded and further impeded its ability to reach users on Apple’s platforms. ([cdn.saverave.com](https://cdn.saverave.com/press/Rave_Press_Release_EN.pdf?utm_source=openai))
In response to concerns about content moderation, Rave has implemented an AI-enabled moderation system designed to protect users from explicit content. This system aims to address issues related to unmoderated public chatrooms and inappropriate material, which had been points of contention in the past. ([cdn.saverave.com](https://cdn.saverave.com/press/Rave_Press_Release_EN.pdf?utm_source=openai))
Rave’s lawsuits seek to restore access for iOS and macOS users and to recover damages related to its removal from the App Store and the malware designation of its Mac application. The company emphasizes that this legal action is not solely about its own interests but also about ensuring that digital app marketplaces remain fair, open, competitive, and accountable to consumers and developers.
Apple has not yet publicly commented on the lawsuits or the specific allegations made by Rave. The outcome of these legal proceedings could have significant implications for app developers and the broader digital marketplace, particularly concerning the balance of power between platform owners and third-party developers.