Apple on Wednesday released updated developer license agreement this gives the company permission to recover unpaid funds such as commissions or other fees, including by deducting them from in-app purchases it processes on behalf of developers.
The change will impact developers in regions where local law allows them to connect to third-party payment systems. In such cases, developers must report these payments to Apple to pay any required commissions or fees.
The amended agreement apparently gives Apple a way to collect what it believes is a fair fee if the company determines that a developer has underreported its earnings.
Apple's policies in this area are complex, but the change could impact developers in markets such as the EU, US, and now Japan, where developers using third-party payment systems may be required to pay Apple various fees or commissions depending on local law. (In the US, the legality of these commissions is still questioned. A federal appeals court earlier this month ruled that the district court should consider allowing Apple to collect part of the commission but not the full 27% fee it previously charged).
In his own new development agreementApple states that it will “cover or recover” what it says is owed, including “any amounts collected by Apple on your behalf from end users.” This means Apple can recover funds from in-app purchases made by developers – such as products, services and digital subscriptions – or from one-time fees for paid apps.
Additionally, Apple notes that it has the right to take back this money “at any time” and “from time to time,” meaning developers could be hit with surprise deductions if Apple believes they have miscalculated their liabilities.
The agreement does not specify how Apple will determine whether it owes money.
Payment types for developers, which vary over time, are limited and include commissions, fees, and taxes. These include the EU's Core Technology Levy (CTF), which currently costs €0.50 for each first annual installation exceeding one million in the last 12 months. In January 2026, Apple will do so switching from CTF to the new feecalled the Core Technology Commission (CTC), a more complicated percentage fee. Apple will collect CTC from apps that use third-party payment methods or are distributed under alternative trading terms in the EU.
The updated development agreement also gives Apple the right to collect unpaid amounts from any “affiliates, parent companies or subsidiaries” associated with an account that owes money. In practice, this means that Apple can collect money from other developer apps or from apps published by the parent company.
These changes are detailed in Annexes 2 and 3, section 3.4, which focuses on application delivery to end users.
These are not the only changes in the contract. Apple is there too introduction sections on age assurance technology, new iOS app terms in Japan, and other requirements.
Interestingly, Apple sets requirements for voice assistants (such as AI chatbots) that are activated via the side button on the iPhone and prohibits recordings made without the user's knowledge. This includes audio and video recordings, as well as screen recordings, which are often used by developers to identify problems users encounter when navigating applications or to locate errors.
To be clear, Apple does not outright ban such recordings. The company simply adds language that says, “Your app may not be designed to allow you to record other people without their knowledge.” Time will tell how Apple will interpret this rule.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
