Apple Updates Developer License Agreement to Allow for Recoupment of Unpaid Funds
Apple recently released an updated developer license agreement that grants the company the authority to recover unpaid funds, such as commissions or fees, by deducting them from in-app purchases processed on behalf of developers. This change will particularly affect developers in regions where local laws permit them to link to external payment systems. In such cases, developers are required to report these payments back to Apple to settle the necessary commissions or fees.
The revised agreement provides Apple with a mechanism to collect the correct fee if it deems that a developer has underreported their earnings. This move could have implications for developers in markets like the EU, U.S., and Japan, where developers utilizing external payment systems may need to pay Apple varying fees or commissions based on local regulations.
Apple’s new developer agreement specifies that it has the right to “offset or recoup” amounts it deems owed, including funds collected by Apple from end-users on behalf of developers. This means Apple could recoup funds from developers’ in-app purchases, digital goods, services, subscriptions, or one-time fees for paid applications. The agreement also allows Apple to collect these amounts at any time and from time to time, potentially leading to surprise deductions for developers.
The agreement does not outline the methodology Apple will use to determine owed amounts, but it includes provisions for collecting unpaid fees, commissions, and taxes. For instance, the Core Technology Fee (CTF) in the EU will be replaced by the Core Technology Commission (CTC) in January 2026, transitioning to a percentage-based fee.
In addition to individual developers, Apple can also collect unpaid amounts from affiliates, parents, or subsidiaries associated with the account in debt. This means Apple could retrieve funds from other apps developed by the same entity.
Furthermore, the updated agreement introduces sections on age assurance technology, new terms for iOS apps in Japan, and specifications for voice-based assistants activated via the iPhone’s side button. Apple is prohibiting recordings made without user awareness, including audio, video, and screen recordings commonly used by developers to identify app issues.
While Apple is not outright banning these recordings, it is mandating that applications may not facilitate recordings of individuals without their knowledge. The interpretation of this rule by Apple remains to be seen.
Apple has not provided a comment on these updates at the time of publication.
