Apple Lifts iPhone NDA For Released Apps - Developers Rejoice!

Apple takes with one hand, but gives with the other, it seems: hot on the heels of Apple taking the scummy action of extending the infamous iPhone NDA to rejection letters received by iPhone developers, Apple has announced that is is (finally!) dropping the NDA for released iPhone apps!

"We get it, Den Den, you're excited, but what does this mean for me?" you ask.

It means that developers can now share what they've learned with each other about programming for the iPhone. Books can be released about programming for the iPhone, sample code will now be able to be published and discussed. End result: better applications for everyone!

Below, you'll find Apple's message detailing how they've realised what app developers have been telling them for months:

We have decided to drop the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for released iPhone software.

We put the NDA in place because the iPhone OS includes many Apple inventions and innovations that we would like to protect, so that others don't steal our work. It has happened before. While we have filed for hundreds of patents on iPhone technology, the NDA added yet another level of protection. We put it in place as one more way to help protect the iPhone from being ripped off by others.

However, the NDA has created too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone's success, so we are dropping it for released software. Developers will receive a new agreement without an NDA covering released software within a week or so. Please note that unreleased software and features will remain under NDA until they are released.

Thanks to everyone who provided us constructive feedback on this matter.

Finally!

To Our Developers [Apple]