Apple Drops iPhone Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

MacRumors · Oct 1, 2008, 11:05 AM

Apple has announced that they have dropped the iPhone Non-Disclosure Agreement for released iPhone software.

Quote:

We have decided to drop the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for released iPhone software.

We put the NDA in place because the iPhone OS includes many Apple inventions and innovations that we would like to protect, so that others don’t steal our work. It has happened before. While we have filed for hundreds of patents on iPhone technology, the NDA added yet another level of protection. We put it in place as one more way to help protect the iPhone from being ripped off by others.

However, the NDA has created too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone’s success, so we are dropping it for released software. Developers will receive a new agreement without an NDA covering released software within a week or so. Please note that unreleased software and features will remain under NDA until they are released.

Thanks to everyone who provided us constructive feedback on this matter.

Apple is expected to release a new version of the NDA next week which will still cover unreleased software and features. This move should open up discussion between developers as well as publication of books on the iPhone SDK. Both activities have been limited due to the continuation of the non-disclosure agreement.

Article Link

zombitronic · Oct 1, 2008, 11:08 AM

This seems fair. Good job, Apple.

ejrizo · Oct 1, 2008, 11:08 AM

if it makes for better innovation and better apps... thats great

yippy · Oct 1, 2008, 11:09 AM

Sounds good, this is something people have been complaining about. I hope it allows for more interest in iPhone development.

MacMuttonchops · Oct 1, 2008, 11:10 AM

Glad to see that they're actually listening to people's feedback. That can only be a step in the right direction.

nlivo · Oct 1, 2008, 11:12 AM

This is amazingly good news! I think this is the first article on Macrumors I have bothered to even vote for it to be Positive or Negative.

CrownSeven · Oct 1, 2008, 11:12 AM

Well then, I guess I will be purchasing a new MBP once the redesign is released to start developing iPHONE apps.

Now just fix that damn nvidia issue.

deckwalker · Oct 1, 2008, 11:13 AM

Way to go Apple.

Mykbibby · Oct 1, 2008, 11:16 AM

Its interesting the reason they implemented the NDA, but nevertheless, I guess its a good thing.

Stargaze · Oct 1, 2008, 11:17 AM

this I wonderful news and it's about time!!!!

xix · Oct 1, 2008, 11:17 AM

"It has happened before"

Sure has, don't forget it. This is extremely good news and very exciting.

iOrlando · Oct 1, 2008, 11:18 AM

wow...pretty big development here.....

apple doesnt want any more negative backlash from andriod and the whole concept of "openess" when it comes to mobile platforms.

commander.data · Oct 1, 2008, 11:19 AM

This is great news.

I may be cynical, but I hope they aren't going to use this as a smoke screen for the issues regarding App Store rejection. Once that is cleared up things will be full steam ahead.

dzhiurgis · Oct 1, 2008, 11:19 AM

Hooray

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMU0tzLwhbE

Ratboy · Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM

I hope this means we'll be seeing a port of Adium for the iPhone soon.

Loonytik · Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM

Finally.....the chains have been released!

geerlingguy · Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM

Awesome! I've been trying to get by on Mac OS X Programming books + some iPhone Developer documents released by Apple alone, and I'm not advanced enough in my programming to do some of the things I'd like to. Hopefully a nice iPhone Dev book will be released by the likes of O'Reilly soon...

jeremy.king · Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM

Now all the training courses can begin!

BongoBanger · Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM

So how does this stop them from arbitrarily preventing apps from appearing in the store?

Nice bit of backtracking though.

MonM · Oct 1, 2008, 11:22 AM

definitely a step in the right direction.

Quote:

Please note that unreleased software and features will remain under NDA until they are released.

Though they've reserved the right to squash any public complaints about being stopped by the sometimes finicky review process.

arn · Oct 1, 2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonM

Though they've reserved the right to squash any public complaints about being stopped by the sometimes finicky review process.

I think that means unreleased Apple software... like Firmware 2.2.

arn

amac4me · Oct 1, 2008, 11:23 AM

A nice development for developers

evilyankeefan · Oct 1, 2008, 11:25 AM

Very cool. Now I can steal..oops learn from others...a lot easier.

McCarron · Oct 1, 2008, 11:28 AM

Thanks Apple! Great news, as it'll now allow much easier communication amongst developers.

sushi · Oct 1, 2008, 11:29 AM

Finally. Good for developers.

Thank you Apple.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:08 AM	#3
ejrizo macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South El Monte, CA (Los Angeles)	if it makes for better innovation and better apps... thats great __________________ Designed by Apple in California

Oct 1, 2008, 11:12 AM	#6
nlivo macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ballarat, Australia	This is amazingly good news! I think this is the first article on Macrumors I have bothered to even vote for it to be Positive or Negative. __________________ Steve Jobs took 6 months off to toke

Oct 1, 2008, 11:13 AM	#8
deckwalker macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lao PDR	Way to go Apple. __________________ -1.83 GHz MBP 1.5 GB -3G 30GB iPod / 8GB Nano 3rd gen -iPhone -Bose SoundDock

Oct 1, 2008, 11:16 AM	#9
Mykbibby macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Palm Springs, CA	Its interesting the reason they implemented the NDA, but nevertheless, I guess its a good thing. __________________ Mac Soda: Quenching Your Thirst for Everything Apple

Oct 1, 2008, 11:19 AM	#14
dzhiurgis macrumors member Join Date: May 2007	Hooray http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMU0tzLwhbE __________________ iPhone Air

Oct 1, 2008, 11:08 AM	#2
zombitronic macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2007	This seems fair. Good job, Apple.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:09 AM	#4
yippy macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Oak Park, IL	Sounds good, this is something people have been complaining about. I hope it allows for more interest in iPhone development.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:10 AM	#5
MacMuttonchops macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New York, NY	Glad to see that they're actually listening to people's feedback. That can only be a step in the right direction.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:12 AM	#7
CrownSeven macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2008	Well then, I guess I will be purchasing a new MBP once the redesign is released to start developing iPHONE apps. Now just fix that damn nvidia issue.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:17 AM	#10
Stargaze macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2008	this I wonderful news and it's about time!!!!

Oct 1, 2008, 11:17 AM	#11
xix Banned Join Date: Jun 2008	"It has happened before" Sure has, don't forget it. This is extremely good news and very exciting.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:18 AM	#12
iOrlando macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Miami Beach, Florida	wow...pretty big development here..... apple doesnt want any more negative backlash from andriod and the whole concept of "openess" when it comes to mobile platforms.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:19 AM	#13
commander.data macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2006	This is great news. I may be cynical, but I hope they aren't going to use this as a smoke screen for the issues regarding App Store rejection. Once that is cleared up things will be full steam ahead.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM	#15
Ratboy macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2002	I hope this means we'll be seeing a port of Adium for the iPhone soon.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM	#16
Loonytik macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2008	Finally.....the chains have been released! __________________ Ipod Nano 3rd Gen 8 GB Black Iphone 3G, 16 GB, Black

Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM	#17
geerlingguy macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Midwest, USA	Awesome! I've been trying to get by on Mac OS X Programming books + some iPhone Developer documents released by Apple alone, and I'm not advanced enough in my programming to do some of the things I'd like to. Hopefully a nice iPhone Dev book will be released by the likes of O'Reilly soon... __________________ Midwestern Mac, LLC \| Life is a Prayer.com 2.8 iMac 24" + 2.0 Aluminum MacBook + 2 TB + iPhone 3G + D90 + D40 + Xbox 360 + Much much more

Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM	#18
jeremy.king macrumors 601 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Fox Lake, IL	Now all the training courses can begin! __________________ http://www.jeremyronking.com http://www.willinois.com

Oct 1, 2008, 11:20 AM	#19
BongoBanger macrumors 68000 Join Date: Feb 2008	So how does this stop them from arbitrarily preventing apps from appearing in the store? Nice bit of backtracking though.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:23 AM	#22
amac4me macrumors 65816 Join Date: Apr 2005	A nice development for developers __________________ Switch To A Mac http://switchtoamac.com

Oct 1, 2008, 11:25 AM	#23
evilyankeefan macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2007	Very cool. Now I can steal..oops learn from others...a lot easier.

Oct 1, 2008, 11:28 AM	#24
McCarron macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2006	Thanks Apple! Great news, as it'll now allow much easier communication amongst developers. __________________ Patrick McCarron

Oct 1, 2008, 11:29 AM	#25
sushi macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kanagawa-Ken	Finally. Good for developers. Thank you Apple. __________________ You only live twice, once when you are born, and when you look death in the face. Basho style poem from 007 YOLT.

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