CHICAGO – To strengthen Illinois’ tech economy, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) is sponsoring legislation that would allow consumers to buy directly from smartphone apps avoiding a 30% fee smartphone companies currently collect - directly benefiting Illinois companies. Alongside other legislators and stakeholders, Feigenholtz will announce the measure during a virtual press conference Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Senate Bill 3417, Freedom to Subscribe Directly Act, would provide smartphone app companies with the legal right to do business directly with their customers, overriding current smartphone app store policies. Current policies force customers to pay the smartphone company — Google or Apple — not the app company providing the service. Google and Apple charge as much as 30% of total revenues, extracting hundreds of millions from Illinois companies.
Feigenholtz will be joined by House sponsor Representative Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. (D-Summit), Senators Robert Peters (D-Chicago) and Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford), David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founder of Illinois app developer Basecamp and hey.com, Danielle Coffey of News Media Alliance, Sumit Sharma, Senior Researcher Tech Competition of Consumer Reports and Pat Garafalo of American Economic Liberties Project.
WHO: State Senators Sara Feigenholtz, Robert Peters and Steve Stadelman, Representative Edgar Gonzalez, Jr., David Heinemeier Hansson, Danielle Coffey, Sumit Sharma, Pat Garafalo
WHAT: Virtual press conference on the Freedom to Subscribe Directly Act
WHEN: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19
WHERE: Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3Iaohg8
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Illinois State Senator Sara Feigenholtz and State Representative Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. will be available for one-on-one interviews starting at 12 p.m. Email
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