Developers Union forms, pushing Apple to fix App Store issues

A group of iOS app developers concerned with Apple’s App Store policies has formed The Developers Union, an advocacy group that will push the company for “community-driven, developer-friendly changes.” With over 50 supporters as of now, the group hopes to hit the 1,000-member mark this week, then 20,000 ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in early June, according to a Wired profile published today.

The Union says that it formed to “advocate for sustainability in the App Store,” a tricky issue given the huge number of small and large developers now competing for iOS users’ cash and attention. To help get more apps in users’ hands, the group is asking Apple to allow free trials for all apps by the App Store’s 10th anniversary in July. “Trials allow developers to show users their creation and establish value,” the group’s FAQs note. “Before iOS, Mac developers relied heavily on free trials, and they were able to make a living while making great software.” …