"I just released a really important Apollo update that adds the ability for users with remaining subscription time left to decline an automatic refund. Devs pay refunds out of pocket, and this will be about $250K, so I thank you for your consideration. ❤️ Also, this update includes an amazing “Goodbye Apollo Wallpaper Set” for your phone, tablet, or desktop, created by outrageously talented Apollo icon designers. You can unlock the pack with a donation that helps with refund costs. 🙂”
There’s a case to be made that this is anti-competitive behavior on Reddit’s part. They offer an API, set usage limits for it, then pull the rug the moment they decide they want to make more money. Okay, that’s actually all fine. Their servers, their rules.
What ISN’T fine is Huffman’s blatant statements that they don’t like other developers making money off of their work, which would indicate that the pricing they landed on is not based in reality but is instead based on an intent to kill off third party apps without having the balls to say as much.
I don’t know how strong of a case this would be, but a sufficiently advanced lawyer is indistinguishable from magic.
If Christian made business decisions based on promises made by Reddit which they reneged on, he has a case under promissory estoppel.
He already has a case for libel based on statements made by spez.
And didn’t they tell him there would be no major API changes, specifically in terms of cost “in 2023”?