While this may be correct, I don't think that you can do much before they actually disable the feature. Chances are that Apple will react to blog posts and emails between the customer and app provider aren't that big as I don't think that any of those is regulated by App Store policies.
On Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 5:55:18 AM UTC+1 Grant Hardy wrote: > Hello Sieghard, > > Developer guideline 3.1.2(a) Permissible uses, states, in part: > > If you are changing your existing app to a subscription-based business > model, you should not take away the primary functionality existing users > have already paid for. For example, let customers who have already > purchased a “full game unlock” continue to access the full game after you > introduce a subscription model for new customers. > > Source: > https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ > > Do you not think this applies? If not, what would stop me from selling you > an app for $99 then a couple months later stating that I am disabling your > purchase and switching to a subscription-only model? Are all perpetual > purchases subject to being disabled then? > > There is also a guideline about undocumented functionality not being > permitted. The notice that the app is switching to a subscription-only > model starting May 1st arrived after installing an update, and that caveat > was not mentioned as a "feature" for that update. Thus, I think that > guideline may apply as well. > > Thanks,functionality: > > > > Grant Hardy > > > On Fri, Mar 29, 2024 at 4:46 PM Sieghard Weitzel <sieg...@live.ca> wrote: > >> I highly doubt it violates any Apple rules, if a developer decides to >> increase the price for their app or to charge something for a previously >> free app or to switch to a subscription model then that is entirely their >> decision. >> >> >> >> *From:* vip...@googlegroups.com <vip...@googlegroups.com> *On Behalf Of >> *Grant >> Hardy >> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 27, 2024 10:17 PM >> *To:* vip...@googlegroups.com >> *Subject:* Please submit feedback to Apple about Voice Dream Reader >> >> >> >> Hey guys, >> >> >> >> If you search for Voice Dream Reader on the App Store, open the page for >> the app, and scroll down, there is an option to "report a problem". Please >> consider reporting what the developer is doing to Apple. I am not sure if >> it violates any developer guidelines, but it sure seems like it would: >> selling lifetime licenses with agreed upon terms and then disabling them. >> The nature of how the update was released also didn't give users any >> warning or opt-out, as the new deadline wasn't mentioned in the release >> notes. I think Apple uses these for internal purposes, and if enough people >> file reports then they may act upon it. >> >> >> >> I would also recommend leaving a review of the app and mentioning the >> upcoming disabling of previously purchased licenses, and how the update was >> handled. >> >> >> >> I absolutely do not have a problem with developers going the subscription >> route, charging for new features and updates, or raising prices. It's a >> tough world out there. But I do have serious concerns about pushing out an >> update that disables previously purchased licenses from continuing to work >> at all and not mentioning that this would happen in the release notes. I >> would imagine this will impact many schools and other educational >> institutions as well who will rely on having access to this app at least >> for the remainder of the school year. >> >> Let's hope we can share with the developer and Apple some constructive >> feedback. >> >> >> >> Grant Hardy >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >> list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >> if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> mk...@ucla.edu. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> cara...@caraquinn.com >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/vip...@googlegroups.com/ >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/> >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to viphone+u...@googlegroups.com. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/CAAhK5Q_6xx%3DYdcxPUqDoWEqUUP2qEPpZ3UhD7HB8_2EcynoiTQ%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/CAAhK5Q_6xx%3DYdcxPUqDoWEqUUP2qEPpZ3UhD7HB8_2EcynoiTQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >> list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >> if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> mk...@ucla.edu. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> cara...@caraquinn.com >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/vip...@googlegroups.com/ >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/> >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to viphone+u...@googlegroups.com. >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/PH7PR12MB56567B4BCF31E7BBB2781663C73A2%40PH7PR12MB5656.namprd12.prod.outlook.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/PH7PR12MB56567B4BCF31E7BBB2781663C73A2%40PH7PR12MB5656.namprd12.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: mk...@ucla.edu. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/e4625a55-0063-41db-9f51-cfcc16b4d333n%40googlegroups.com.