Developers Now Required to Share Phone Number and Address on EU App Store to Meet 'Trader' Requirement

[MacRumors]

Apple today reminded developers that the EU trader requirement in the European Union is now being enforced. Developers who distribute apps in the EU will now need to share information that includes address, phone number, and email address on the EU App Store.

Submitting updates for apps on the App Store in the European Union now requires trader information that's added via App Store Connect, with those details shared on each developer's App Store page. App updates can no longer be submitted without trader information, and starting on February 17, 2025, apps that do not have a trader status set will be removed from the App Store in the EU until trader status is provided and verified.

The Digital Services Act (DSA) in the European Union requires Apple to verify and display trader contact information for all "traders" who are distributing apps on the App Store in the European Union. Developers who make money from the App Store through either an upfront purchase price or through in-app purchases are considered traders, regardless of size.

Contact information for each developer that is considered a trader will be publicly available, and there will undoubtedly be some developers that are unhappy with the requirement. Independent developers and small companies may not have dedicated business addresses and phone numbers to provide, and will likely be reluctant to provide their personal contact information.

Apple warned developers about the upcoming trader status requirement earlier this year. As of now, trader information has to be provided before an app can be submitted for review.

Displaying trader status is a Digital Services Act requirement in the European Union, which means Apple has to implement the feature. Developer contact information will be displayed on the App Store product page when an app is distributed in any of the 27 territories in the EU.

More information on determining who is a trader and who needs to provide contact details can be found on Apple's website.

Article Link: Developers Now Required to Share Phone Number and Address on EU App Store to Meet 'Trader' Requirement

 

[breenmask]

What an absolute mess. No thx

 

[firstcitazen]

does the EU validate this information so nefarious developers can't just publish false info?

 

[ibookemo]

Why do we care, it’s just a law. As long as the apps are good it doesn’t matter about these little things to me. There are more important things in life 🫠

 

[coffeemilktea]

Developers who make money from the App Store through either an upfront purchase price or through in-app purchases are considered traders, regardless of size.

I suppose developers who release only completely free apps (say, as a hobby) would be exempt? 🤔

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I suppose developers who release only completely free apps (say, as a hobby) would be exempt? 🤔

Correct. If you do not make any money, or even if you do but your app isn't your profession (Accountant by day, game dev on weekends?), the DSA does not consider you a trader.

 

[Jhonjhon236]

Why do we care, it’s just a law. As long as the apps are good it doesn’t matter about these little things to me. There are more important things in life 🫠

Would you like all your public info available for everyone to see? Most developers won’t.

 

[ibookemo]

Would you like all your public info available for everyone to see? Most developers won’t.

It’s a business address, it’s available anyway. Think man.

 

[fabian9]

If you’re offering a paid app then your customers should be able to contact you. Seems sensible to me to be honest.

Too many bad actors charge for stuff and have less than desirable customer service.

 

[breenmask]

It’s a business address, it’s available anyway. Think man.

Indie developer's business address would be the home address.

 

[Alwaysfindsaway]

Does this not infringe on GDPR their other law that stops the sharing of personal information?! The EU is just being an absolute mess of nonsense laws.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Does this not infringe on GDPR their other law that stops the sharing of personal information?! The EU is just being an absolute mess of nonsense laws.

It's not personal information, it's business information. If you're a developer selling apps, you're a business.

 

[podycust]

Indie developer's business address would be the home address.

Totally agree I don’t wish to my home address on the AppStore for everyone to see

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Totally agree I don’t wish to my home address on the AppStore for everyone to see

Get a PO-style box or address. My wife runs her law practice from our home office, but our home address isn't her business address, it's a PO Box.

 

[ibookemo]

Indie developer's business address would be the home address.

Y’know what. If they don’t want to follow the rules they should leave the App Store and not do their business in the EU.

Rules of different countries have to be followed. That’s how the world has always worked. Devs should dry their eyes and get on with making great software. Rules are rules.

 

[strongy]

Does this not infringe on GDPR their other law that stops the sharing of personal information?! The EU is just being an absolute mess of nonsense laws.

the information should be available anyway

businesses that sell to the European Union must provide their contact information on their website:

• Identity: The business's trading name
• Physical address: The business's legal physical address
• Email address: The business's legal email address
• Telephone number: The business's telephone number
• Establishment address: If different, the legal address of the business's establishment

In addition to the address, other legal information that must be displayed on UK website includes:

• Company name
• Company registration number
• VAT number
• Contact details
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy

 

[akidokraja]

It's not personal information, it's business information. If you're a developer selling apps, you're a business.

I guess you don’t know what Indie means or you don’t live in US as rules are different here. You don’t have to be a business entity to make money. It is called Sole Proprietor.

 

[mox358]

Indie developer's business address would be the home address.

Exactly. For me as a solo hobbyist developer it was easier to just stopping offering apps in the EU vs publishing my home information.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I guess you don’t know what Indie means or you don’t live in US as rules are different here. You don’t have to be a business entity to make money. It is called Sole Proprietor.

As I'm posted earlier, my wife is a sole proprietor (actually has an LLC), but works under both as an Attorney out of our home office. She uses a PO Box as her legal address.

She does criminal cases and obviously doesn't want our home address available, and it's not.

 

[podycust]

Get a PO-style box or address. My wife runs her law practice from our home office, but our home address isn't her business address, it's a PO Box.

Tbh it’s not worth it as app development is just hobby don’t make enough to make it viable

 

[FrietVanPiet]

Exactly. For me as a solo hobbyist developer it was easier to just stopping offering apps in the EU vs publishing my home information.

If you are publishing an app just as a hobby, then you are not considered to be a trader; therefore, you don't need to share your private info. This is explained in the article.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Tbh it’s not worth it as app development is just hobby don’t make enough to make it viable

If it's a hobby and not your profession, this rule doesn't apply anyway.

 

[podycust]

Exactly. For me as a solo hobbyist developer it was easier to just stopping offering apps in the EU vs publishing my home information.

Am thinking the same. Stopping offering apps in the eu

 

[Jamie0003]

Being able to actually contact companies? What a world we live in!

This sub: won’t somebody please think of the trillion dollar corps!

 

[starman111]

It’s a business address, it’s available anyway. Think man.

This will be a burden for small developers though. Now they have to get a 2nd phone number.