Is VLC Media Player Facing Removal from iOS Devices?

Recently, the widely acclaimed cross-platform VLC media player, known for its open-source nature, became available on Apple mobile devices, including the iPad. However, emerging reports suggest that this versatile player might soon be pulled from the App Store, leaving iOS users in a bind. Tech experts recommend downloading the VLC iOS version while it’s still accessible.

The core issue stems from a licensing conflict with Apple’s App Store policies and the GNU General Public License (GPL) under which VLC is distributed. The problem lies in how the app is distributed: even free software versions are tied to a specific iTunes account, restricting users from freely sharing the app with others. While friends can download the app for free using their own iTunes accounts, the app remains linked to each individual owner. This distribution model contradicts the GPL’s principles, which emphasize free software sharing, making the App Store inherently incompatible with such licenses.

The VLC iOS developer inadvertently misrepresented the app’s licensing details during the submission process, leading to its acceptance in the App Store—albeit likely temporarily. This scenario mirrors a previous incident where the iOS version of the GNU Go game was removed from the App Store for similar licensing violations.

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