App Refunds Policy Change NEW ADMENMENT" Must read!

[forcesteeler]

Developers are going to have to pay back refunds with new policy

http://kotaku.com/5181471/apple-putt...one-developers


The iPhone is a slick looking machine. More and more developers are starting to make iPhone games, and the platform could give the PSP and the DS a run for its money.

But, according to insiders, the phone itself might be developer friendly, but Apple is not. Apple is forcing a rather nasty contractual amendment to developers.

Under the amendment, there's a new contract provision of a 90 day refund policy that states for every refund, developers must pay back Apple's 30 percent royalty cut. What does that mean? That means Apple reimburses 100% of the cost of the refund to the user and the developer has to pay back Apple's cut with their own pocket money. Thus, Apple is not losing anything, but the developer who only receives 70 percent of the revenue from each download has to pay back 100 percent for every single refund.

If customers can claim refunds hassle-free (and there is a 90 day refund window) this means developers could actually face the prospect of going into debt as people download and play the game to completion and then claim a refund for whatever reason. Obviously good for consumers but not for developers.

Word has it that Apple is forcing devs to sign the new contract by the end of this week. Those who don't will be left with no ability to upload and upgrade existing applications. This contract is apparently being put in front of major game developers who are releasing iPhone titles.

[CommanderData]

Sigh, here we go again... From my post on touchArcade this morning:

Ugh. Why does this keep coming up??? That Vendetta guy yesterday kept going off about it too.

Ok, folks, here it is: Paragraph 6.3 of the new agreement is identical word-for-word with the original agreement that we developers electronically signed to sell apps in the store. I have the old and the new one in front of me. Does anyone read contracts anymore? This does not mean Apple's giving out refunds to anybody at any time the user feels like it.

This agreement is being pushed to allow developers to sell in the dozen+ new countries that are getting the App Store starting in April 2009. There is no change to existing refund policy, no returning apps with no questions asked within 90 days. Apple will continue to award the occasional refund they always have, and no more.

Nothing to see here... move along...

It's a completely bogus rumor with no research done by anyone to prove it. It is simply not true, you can read your own developer agreements to see that is the case- you did save your old ones didn't you?

[admanimal]

Certainly you're not suggesting that forcesteeler would reflexively latch on to any negative press about Apple's business practices without making sure it is valid, are you?

[forcesteeler]

got this

http://www.iphonedevsdk.com/forum/bu...s-correct.html

[CommanderData]

Originally Posted by forcesteeler

got this

http://www.iphonedevsdk.com/forum/bu...s-correct.html

Yeah, I was there too... trying to calm people down a bit. No need to get excited as the policy has not changed in any way.

I don't hang out here as much as I used to so I was a bit surprise when I arrived and this thread was on top- after I'd just gotten done responding in other forums. Sorry if I sounded harsh!

[kwjohns]

Personally, I think refunds in the App Store are implemented terribly right now. When Apple refunds someone for an app, the purchaser get to keep the app and it continues to work and continues to allow the person to get updates as well.