No, I know you can just use a PO box but a hobbyist developer is not gonna pay for a PO Box just to keep their privacy
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Developers Must Share Phone Number and Address on EU App Store to Meet 'Trader' Requirement Starting in October
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If you’re a hobbyist developer then yeah, you don’t have a “business address”
Yes but if you look into it the definition of “trader” you see this
Quoting from Apple’s page on the matter
“The EC has also published Guidance in the digital commerce context, from the perspective of when an ”influencer“ may be considered a trader.”
Well, GDP is down about 4% every year meaning a loss of about £100bn year in trade, and £40bn in tax revenues.
We are contactable! Every app has to have a Support URL where the consumer can get help. I even provide a contact form for someone to fill out, which emails me. I reply to their message and the from address is either hidden, or is a throwaway one generated simply for that interaction with that customer.
Also, someone can write a review in the App Store, and the developer can respond to it. It's easy. It's worked for years.
That customer does not need my personal phone number or home address.
The customer's email address on the contact form is optional, and it says if they want a response to enter their email. It doesn't even ask for a name or anything, just for the issue they're seeing, or the suggestion they have. I don't collect any data, and that is in the privacy policy already on the website.
I don’t understand what you’re hinting at, plenty of hobbyist developers sell small apps they develop in their spare time for a small fee
I don't think you realise what it's about either. Not everyone can afford to set up a trading address somewhere. And no, PO Boxes are not allowed, according to Apple.
I've already gone over this. Indie developers don't make a ton of money, and what little they do make probably covers the Apple Developer Program and some web hosting, plus a small bit of profit. I don't make a profit, but now I'm supposed to get myself a business address and a new phone number?
Whether you are trader or not in the EU, you have to read this document. That Information is from Apple.
That’s exactly the page I looked at when I got my email from apple (I’m in the Apple Developer Program)
“Whether you make revenue as a result of your app, for example if your app includes in-app purchases, or if it's a paid or ad-sponsored app — especially if you're transacting in large volumes;”
It’s possible I’m misreading this but by this definition in the page you linked makes it sound like if I make any kind of revenue from my app then I’m a trader - even if I’m just selling a small utility I coded in my bedroom for 0,99€
EDIT: Maybe I should also clarify that im very “much in the EU” since I live in Italy
The more exposure is better for you, as with it comes the recognition. Some big business might invite you in.
If it is also your registered address, there's nothing you can do, if you want to do business in the EU.
OK judging from your other replies to this thread I think I understand what the problem is
Your entire argument seems to be “if you want to do business in the EU these are the rules so suck it up”
To which I say yes, we understand these are the rules, what we are saying is the rules are stupid, anachronistic and unfair
Correct. It is up to the developer to determine if they qualify as a trader.
The section of the document that I referenced is guidance offered by the EU on how to determine if you qualify as a trader including relevant court decisions.
"The latest figures show the UK recorded the strongest growth in the G7 group of advanced economies over the past six months. The second-quarter growth rate of 0.6% compares with 0.3% in the eurozone
Annual GDP growth rate 4.3% "
Yes, and? 🤷♂️ That is nothing new, what is new is that Apple is stricter about it but if you had a website all of that applies as well. And already applied under GDPR.
That an opinion
One can always take it with the regulatory body, alone or with the help of a legal advisor. By the way, Apple sort of agrees with those regulations.
Yes of course I’m in no way blaming Apple for this, they’re following the rules
That’s why I only mentioned the European Commission in my initial post
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And I don’t remember claiming this is something new. Nor I claimed this is something Apple decided to do for no reason whatsoever.
If you read my initial post all I’m saying with my little joke is the European Commission both claims to stand for my right to privacy (with many good laws about what companies or cannot do with my data) but then expect me to dox myself in order to sell a small app on iOS
Also I’m not sure what you meant by “if you have a website that also applies”, but if you’re talking about WHOIS in the EU you can actually opt out of showing your contact information in a WHOIS query
That’s why my personal website is hosted under a .eu domain, so that I can hide that information
I hate form filling and waiting for answers from companies. I always call them to speak to a real personal and get the answers I need there and then.
Why do you need throwaway email addresses or to hide your email from customers? Simply create one for the business and just stick to it. What is the turnaround time for a reply from yourself to a customer?
Writing a review to get attention instant the ideal way to get the developers attention, not very professional either.
I am not saying you need to give your personal details to customers. Buy a very cheap tariff deal on a business line and get PO Box address or something you can use.
That's growth in a six-month period. What about in the last few years, especially since we left the EU? We have grown more slowly than EU members in the G7.
Also, when Economy A's GDP is, say, £1, and Economy B's GDP is £1.10, when Economy A grows by 10% its GDP is £1.10; when Economy B grows by 5% its GDP is £1.155. Economy A had faster growth, but its GDP is still smaller. Brexit is the cause of that.
What's Twitter's contact phone number? What's Facebook's? Can you speak to someone in those companies? Or do they make you raise a support ticket on their website?
As I said, in case of spam. I could easily setup an email address for people to use, but why should I when there's a contact form that works just as well? When I get an email, I read it, figure out what to do, maybe reproduce the issue, and respond. Turnaround time - if I'm at home and able to work on the app - could be five minutes.
But it works. If you leave a review or report a bug via the App Store, I'll respond.
You have completely missed the point we've all been raising. It is not free to get a PO Box (and there is some confusion over whether you can actually use one with Apple), and it is not free to get a new phone number regardless of how cheap you think they are. We don't earn enough to cover those expenses. I already lose money because I don't earn enough to even cover the Apple Developer Program fee. I only write these apps to keep my skills fresh.
Also, you can't get a business line unless you're a business. I'm not a business under UK law.
I already provide a means for a customer to get in touch, and it has worked since I launched apps on the App Store with iPhoneOS 2.0. Why must I now offer a phone number and take calls from someone who bought my 99p app and has a problem with it? I'm one person. I can't speak German, or Italian, or Slovakian. How am I supposed to handle such calls?