Musi's music-streaming app was removed after YouTube complained about interface infringement, while Sarafan's "Reely" app was taken down following Instagram's claims about logo similarity.

Both developers say the platforms breached their agreements by removing apps without sufficient evidence. The lawsuits underscore broader concerns about Apple and Google's dominance in-app distribution. According to University of New Hampshire law professor Peter Karol, their private IP dispute systems operate outside traditional legal frameworks, with platforms making unilateral decisions that can effectively shut down businesses.

Law professor at the University of San Diego Lisa Ramsey said: "In a court proceeding, you can see a complaint with the allegations, and then we have the defendant respond, and then we have a judge come out with an opinion saying, 'Is the mark valid? Is the mark infringed?'".

However, Google and Apple's systems are "a black box" in which they rule supreme, she said.