Rave's anti-Sherlocking suit delayed as Apple gets it moved to California

Apple has requested that a court move Rave, Inc.'s lawsuit alleging copycat features to California. This move could provide Apple with a significant advantage in the case. Rave is claiming that Apple's "sherlocked" its streaming app and subsequently blocked it from the App Store. However, the lawsuit was initially filed in New Jersey in May 2026, and the judge has agreed to Apple's request to transfer the case to the Northern District of California.

The judge, William J. Martini, mentioned that Rave's allegations cover a period before Apple revoked its developer status, which requires any litigation to take place in the Northern District of California. It remains unclear why this decision was not made earlier. The judge also deemed California more suitable due to the nature of the dispute, as Apple is based in the state.

This decision does not impact Rave's other lawsuits against Apple, which are ongoing in Canada, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Russia. Rave asserts that Apple removed its streaming app from the App Store because its features compete with Apple's own SharePlay. Apple's alleged gatekeeper power raises concerns about developers' security within the ecosystem.

Rave's complaint argues that unchecked dominant platform power stifles innovation, job creation, and consumer benefits. It is well-known that Apple often adds features to its apps before rivals, but it is not true that Apple subsequently bans those competitors. Furthermore, Rave's filing does not clarify the lack of moderation on its various streams, which led to inappropriate content being streamed, potentially exposing users as young as 13 to pornography.

Neither Apple nor Rave, Inc. have commented on the court transfer, and it is uncertain when the Northern District of California will hear arguments in this case.