Founder of price transparency app hits back at critics

Magnus Resch, the art market entrepreneur behind the Magnus price data app, has responded to claims that his service had stolen information from other databases and galleries. The free app, which combines aggregated public information with digital recognition technology, also includes prices, the holy grail of the primary market. In July, the Magnus app was removed from the Apple Store after breach-of-copyright claims by three German galleries, which asked for images—as well as the price data—to be removed. Resch says that his competitors are threatened by the service the app offers: other providers charge for price data while galleries “fear they may be harmed by pricing transparency”, he says. “This move towards greater and greater transparency… cannot be stopped. Whether we are challenged in the press or threatened with lawsuits, we will fight it and win—the app will be up again soon.”