iPad and iPhone developers have to sign an agreement with Apple before they can make apps for inclusion in the iTunes App Store. Apple bans them from talking about it publicly but a copy has now hit the web. So what rules will Apple impose if you want to make an iPad or iPhone app?
When the Electronic Freedom Foundation noticed the NASA iPhone app, it put in a Freedom of Information request to take a peek at NASA’s copy of the Apple developer agreement. It’s now published some of the key points online.
First up, Apple bans iPhone and iPad developers from talking about the agreement. Banning “public statements” effectively means the first rule of iPad and iPhone development is you do not talk about iPad and iPhone development.
As we know from cases like Google Voice app controversy, Apple reserves the right to reject iPhone and iPad apps for any reason. One developer set up a site – AppRejections – to catalogue Apple’s many curious decisions. If you make an app using the iPhone or iPad SDK, you can’t distribute it anywhere else.
Apple can also kill your app at any time. Section 8 of the iPad and iPhone developer agreement says Apple can “revoke the digital certificate of any of Your Applications at any time.” Apple can even remotely disable apps once they’re out in the wild and installed on iPhones.
If something goes wrong with your iPhone or iPad app and Apple’s to blame, the iPhone and iPad developer license says you’ll only be entitled to £33 ($50) in damages.
What do you think? Are Apple’s rules for iPad and iPhone developers fair enough or do you prefer the more open environment offered up by Google Android?
Out now | £free | Apple (via Electronic Freedom Foundation)
