Apple has introduced a significant change in its developer license agreement, enabling the company to recover unpaid funds directly from developers through in-app purchases and other methods. The updated agreement empowers Apple to deduct outstanding amounts, including commissions and fees, from payments processed on behalf of developers. This move will particularly affect developers in regions where external payment systems are permitted by law. In such cases, developers are required to report these payments to Apple for the payment of due commissions or fees.
The modified agreement essentially provides Apple with a mechanism to retrieve what it deems as the correct fee in instances where developers may have underreported their earnings. This change could have implications for developers in various markets, including the EU, US, and Japan, where external payment systems usage may entail different fees or commissions based on local regulations.
Apple’s new policy grants the company the authority to collect owed amounts, including those collected from end-users on developers’ behalf, at any point in time. This means that developers might face unexpected deductions if Apple believes there are discrepancies in the amounts owed. The agreement, however, does not outline the specific criteria Apple will use to determine outstanding debts.
Among the fluctuating developer payments are commissions, fees, and taxes, such as the Core Technology Fee (CTF) in the EU. The introduction of this policy could have lasting implications for developers working within Apple’s ecosystem.
Source: TechCrunch
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