Apple can now take your app money without warning
Apple has revised its developer license agreement to allow the company to recoup unpaid commissions and other fees from in-app purchases processed on developers’ behalf.
The change affects developers in regions that permit external payment systems, requiring them to report such transactions so Apple can claim its share.
The update gives Apple the right to “offset or recoup” amounts it believes are owed, including funds collected from end-users, at any time.
Developers could face deductions from digital goods, services, subscriptions, or one-time app fees if Apple determines earnings have been underreported. The agreement does not clarify how these determinations will be made.
This move has implications for markets including the EU, U.S., and Japan, where the legality and rate of commissions on externally processed payments vary.
In the U.S., courts are still weighing Apple’s ability to collect partial commissions, following a federal appeals ruling that instructed a lower court to consider allowing some collection but not the full 27% fee previously charged.
The update also addresses region-specific charges, such as the EU’s Core Technology Fee (CTF), which will transition in January 2026 to a more complex, percentage-based Core Technology Commission (CTC) applicable to apps using external payments or distributed under alternative business terms.
Apple can also collect unpaid amounts from affiliates, parent companies, or subsidiaries tied to the same account, broadening its enforcement reach across developer portfolios.
Additional changes cover age assurance technology, new iOS app terms in Japan, and rules for voice-activated assistants, including restrictions on recordings made without user awareness.
Apple clarified that applications may not be designed to facilitate such recordings but has not defined enforcement methods.
The revisions underscore Apple’s focus on maintaining revenue capture amid evolving regulatory scrutiny and external payment alternatives, raising compliance and financial reporting considerations for developers operating in multiple jurisdictions.
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