What constitutes "made available on all user devices" for a non-consumable product?

Question

Created Jan ’16

Replies 4

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I have an existing iPad app that I have added a non-consumable product to (added functionality). I understand that once the user purchases the additional functionality, he/she has the option of installing that functionality without paying for it again, on all devices under his/her control (fellow employees, friends, etc.).

What constitutes "made available to all of the user's devices under his control" (taken from page 2 of the iAP Programming Guide). Can he let his friends, etc have a copy using his Apple iTunes Connect ID?

This really bums me out because I have put a lot of time and effort into developing this added functionality, and if he/she is able to give it to his friends, I might as well give it away for free!

Comments, answers would be greatly appreciated! SD

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Answer 1

junkpile OP

Jan ’16

Accepted Answer

Do you give your Apple ID password out to your friends? I think most legitimate customers do not.

Yes if someone is using a throwaway account specifically for the purpose of "sharing" App Store purchases, the purchase must be able to be restored on any device logged in using that account. But normally the logic goes: those people wouldn't have bought it anyway so it's not really lost sales. If your app is good and useful then people won't mind paying for it. The customers you want won't, anyway.

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Answer 2

SpokaneDude OP

Jan ’16

I was more concerned about fellow employees; my app is a scheduling app, and I have just added the ability to sync the CoreData database between all iPads using the "owner's" iCloud account. I'm concerned that if the employees download the app to their devices for free (using the employee's iTunes or App Store account), the added function will follow.

I don't suppose there is any way to prevent new users from using someone else's Apple ID, is there? (call me paranoid) 😀

SD

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Answer 3

KMT OP

Jan ’16

>I don't suppose there is any way to prevent new users from using someone else's Apple ID, is there?

How would a dev know? The only mechanism for that relies on the honesty of both parties.

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Answer 4

PBK OP

Jan ’16

yes there is a solution. First, you can only 'restoreCompletedTransactions' using the same iTunes Account used to download the app itself, so it is a bit more complicated than indicated above. But it remains an issue - not of 'lost sales' but of 'theft'. Second, for your use case you can simply record a device-specific variable and refuse to allow more than 5 devices to use the same iCloud Account. Tell the 6th device they need to contact you to enable additional devices. Create a backdoor method of increasing 5 to 10. Tell App Review you did this consistent with Apple's limit of 5 devices connected to the same computer. Also, if you need to be logged into a specific iCloud Account and it is not your iCloud Account then it is quite a hassle always switching iCloud Accounts to access different functions like Find My iPhone and Princeton Ride Share and device backup.

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