YouTube Boots Canadian Developer’s Vision Pro App from App Store

Canadian iOS developer Christian Selig, known for creating popular apps like Apollo and Pixel Pals, announced that his Vision Pro app, Juno, has been removed from Apple’s App Store following a complaint from YouTube.

Halifax-based Selig explained that YouTube reached out a few months ago, claiming that “Juno does not adhere to YouTube guidelines and modifies the website in a way they don’t approve of, and alludes to their trademarks and iconography.”

He disagreed with YouTube’s claim, stating that “Juno is just a web view, and acts as little more than a browser extension that modifies CSS to make the website and video player look more ‘visionOS’-like.” Selig said that the app does not block ads and uses only YouTube’s existing logos, which is allowed under their branding guidelines.

Selig tried to talk to YouTube about his Juno app, but said “YouTube wouldn’t really clarify or budge any.” Without a resolution, Apple emailed Selig today that Juno was being removed from the App Store.

“Juno was a fun hobby project for me to build,” stated Selig. “I wanted to get some experience building for the Vision Pro, and as a user, I wanted a nice way to watch YouTube on this cool new device.”

He added that he has “zero desire to spin this into a massive fight akin to what happened with Reddit years ago,” referring to his previous app Apollo’s removal from Reddit’s platform.

For existing Juno users, Selig said the app should continue to function “until/unless YouTube updates in some fashion that breaks stuff.” He thanked Vision Pro users for their support, saying, “It’s been genuinely awesome hearing all the kind words from Vision Pro users who have loved the app.”

So YouTube doesn’t want to release its own native app for the Vision Pro, and takes out the next best thing from a third party developer. Go figure.

Sad to hear that Selig’s hard work is being put six feet under. But it’s not a big deal to the 13 people that bought a Vision Pro in Canada (kidding…well maybe not).