Apple released an updated developer license agreement on Wednesday. This agreement grants the company permission to recoup unpaid funds, such as commissions or other fees, by deducting them from in-app purchases it processes on developers’ behalf, among other methods.
The change will impact developers in regions where local law allows them to link to external payment systems. In these cases, developers must report those external payments back to Apple to pay the required commissions. The updated agreement seemingly gives Apple a way to collect what it believes is the correct fee if the company determines a developer has underreported their earnings.
Apple’s policies in this area are complex. The change could impact developers in markets like the EU, the US, and Japan, where developers using external payment systems may be required to pay Apple varying fees depending on local law. In the U.S., the legality of these commissions is still being disputed. A federal appeals court recently ruled that a district court should consider allowing Apple to collect some commission, though possibly not the full fee it previously charged.
In its new agreement, Apple states it will offset or recoup what it believes it is owed, including any amounts collected by Apple on a developer’s behalf from users. This means Apple could recoup funds from developers’ in-app purchases for digital goods, services, and subscriptions, or from one-time fees for paid applications.
Apple notes it has the right to collect this money at any time and from time to time. This means developers could face surprise deductions if Apple believes they have miscalculated what they owe. The agreement does not specify how Apple will determine whether it is owed money.
The types of developer payments that vary include commissions, fees, and taxes. Among these is the Core Technology Fee in the EU, which currently costs a set amount for each first annual install exceeding one million. In January 2026, Apple will transition from this fee to a new, more complicated percentage-based fee called the Core Technology Commission. Apple will collect this commission from apps that use external payment methods or are distributed under its alternative business terms for the EU.
The updated agreement also gives Apple the right to collect unpaid amounts from any affiliates, parents, or subsidiaries related to the account that owes money. In practical terms, Apple could collect money from a developer’s other apps, or from apps published by a parent company.
These changes are detailed in specific sections of the agreement focusing on the delivery of applications to end users.
These are not the only modifications. Apple is also introducing sections devoted to its age assurance technology, new terms for iOS apps in Japan, and other requirements.
Of interest, Apple is defining requirements for voice-based assistants activated via the side button on the iPhone and is banning recordings made without user awareness. This includes audio, video, and screen recordings, which developers often use to identify user issues or locate bugs.
Apple is not banning these recordings outright. The company is adding language stating that an application may not be designed to facilitate recordings of others without their awareness. How Apple will interpret that rule remains to be seen.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication.