OpenClaw Creator Faces Suspended Account Over Alleged Policy Violation
Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw, recently revealed on X that he faced an account suspension by Anthropic due to “suspicious” activity. Steinberger expressed concern that it would become increasingly difficult for OpenClaw to integrate effectively with Anthropic’s models.
Quick Reinstatement Followed by Support
The suspension was short-lived; a few hours later, Steinberger announced that his account had been reinstated. In the ensuing conversation, one Anthropic engineer assured him that the company had never implemented bans for using OpenClaw, extending an offer for assistance.
Context of the Suspension
This incident arose shortly after Anthropic announced that subscriptions to its AI model, Claude, would no longer cover third-party tools like OpenClaw. Users are now required to pay separately for API access based on usage, effectively instituting a “claw tax” for OpenClaw users. Steinberger claimed he was adhering to the new pricing guidelines but was nonetheless banned from the platform.
Reasons Behind the Pricing Shift
Anthropic justified the pricing change by citing that existing subscriptions weren’t adequately designed for the “usage patterns” associated with OpenClaw. Unlike simpler prompts or scripts, claws often utilize more processing power as they may engage in continuous reasoning and interact with a variety of third-party applications.
Steinberger’s Criticism of Anthropic
Steinberger dismissed Anthropic’s rationale, suggesting that the timing of the policy changes raised eyebrows. He implied that the company had integrated popular features into its closed-platform offerings before imposing restrictions on open-source solutions. Specifically, he referred to enhancements such as Claude Dispatch, which allows remote control of agents, deployed just prior to the change in OpenClaw’s pricing.
Dialogue with Supporters and Detractors
Steinberger expressed his annoyance further, responding to comments questioning his choice to work for OpenAI over Anthropic. One individual noted his job switch, saying he “went to the wrong one,” to which Steinberger retorted, “One welcomed me, one sent legal threats.” This exchange highlights the tensions existing between the two companies.
Testing Across Models for Compatibility
When questioned about his preference for using Claude instead of OpenAI’s models, Steinberger explained that his testing is crucial for ensuring that updates to OpenClaw do not disrupt its functionality for Claude users. He emphasized the distinction between his role at the OpenClaw Foundation, focused on compatibility with different providers, and his position at OpenAI, where he is involved in shaping product strategy.
OpenClaw’s Continued Popularity
Despite Anthropic’s changes, many users still favor Claude over ChatGPT for OpenClaw applications. Steinberger acknowledged the shift in pricing policies and hinted at ongoing work to adapt to these developments in his role at OpenAI. He did not respond to a request for further comment.