A change to Apple’s developer terms is reshaping how the company enforces fee collection across its app ecosystem.
Apple has released an updated developer license agreement that allows it to recover unpaid commissions, fees, or other charges by deducting amounts directly from developers’ in app purchases or other funds processed by Apple.
The update affects regions where developers are permitted to link to external payment systems. In such cases, developers must report external payments to Apple and pay the applicable fees. The revised agreement gives Apple the authority to recover amounts it believes were underreported.
Apple states it can “offset or recoup” unpaid sums, including “any amounts collected by Apple on your behalf from end-users.” This could include revenue from digital goods, services, subscriptions, or one time paid app downloads. Apple also says it can collect these amounts “at any time” and “from time to time.”
The agreement does not explain how Apple will determine whether developers owe additional money.
The changes may impact developers in markets such as the EU, U.S., and Japan, where commission rules differ by region. In the EU, Apple currently charges a Core Technology Fee of €0.50 per annual install beyond 1 million. From January 2026, this will be replaced by the Core Technology Commission, a percentage based fee for apps using external payments or alternative business terms.
Apple also reserves the right to recover unpaid amounts from affiliates, parent companies, or subsidiaries linked to a developer account. This could allow Apple to collect funds from other apps owned by the same company.
The updated agreement includes new sections covering age assurance technology, updated terms for iOS apps in Japan, and rules for voice activated assistants. Apple added language stating, “Your Application may not be designed to facilitate Recordings of others without their awareness.”
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