YouTube wrapper app Musi has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Apple following its removal from the App Store on September 24th. The Manitoba-based company claims the removal was unjustified and violated Apple's Development Agreement terms.

Musi, which never released on Android, provided users with enhanced functionality to interact with YouTube content through an alternative interface. The app allowed users to access YouTube's music library, including live recordings, while displaying full-screen silent ads between tracks.

The legal dispute stems from a long-running conflict with YouTube dating back to 2015. Key points of contention include:

• YouTube's 2021 allegations that Musi violated terms by:
  • Accessing non-public interfaces
  • Using YouTube for unauthorized commercial purposes
  • Selling ads on pages featuring YouTube videos
• Musi claims it refuted these allegations but received no response from YouTube
• In August 2023, Apple notified Musi of YouTube's formal complaint regarding intellectual property rights infringement
• Despite communications with both Apple and Google/YouTube, Musi was removed from the App Store

The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to restore Musi to the App Store platform. The company argues the removal has caused significant financial and reputational harm to their business.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between platform operators, third-party apps, and content rights holders in the digital music space.

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