Apple updates to require Chinese government license to distribute new apps on China's App Store
Apple has announced that developers distributing new apps on China's App Store will be required to submit a license certificate issued by the Chinese government.
Apple enforces new check on apps in China as Beijing tightens oversight | Reuters
Apple Adopts Tighter Chinese App Store Rules, Closing Foreign App Loophole - MacRumors
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/03/apple-adopts-tighter-china-app-store-rules/
Apple will require iPhone apps in China to prove they have a government license - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/3/23901205/apple-app-store-government-license-china
On Friday, September 29, 2023, Apple announced that developers distributing apps on the Chinese App Store will be required to submit an Internet Content Provider (ICP) application license when publishing new apps on the App Store. ” was announced to developers.
ICP application licenses are required to legally operate websites in China, and have been adopted by third-party app stores operated by major Chinese technology companies such as Tencent and Huawei since around 2017.
To obtain an ICP application license, developers must have a company in China or work with a local publisher. Therefore, for many app developers, ICP application licenses have become a major obstacle to distributing apps in China.
However, because Apple has introduced a very loose policy regarding ICP application licenses in the App Store, it has been possible to offer many mobile apps on the Chinese App Store until now. Reuters also points out that this has made China the third largest mobile app market after the United States and Europe.
Meanwhile, Apple has announced that it will require a stricter ICP application license than before. This means that in August 2023, the Chinese government will strengthen its oversight of mobile apps more than ever before, requiring all app stores and app developers to submit an ICP application license, including business details, to regulators. This is because it is mandatory.
In response to tightening regulations, Chinese regulators have published a list of mobile app stores that are compatible with the new ICP application license, but the App Store name was not included in this list. As a result, there were concerns that this could affect the accessibility of hundreds of thousands of apps distributed on the Chinese App Store.
In addition to mobile app store regulations, Apple also faces other challenges from the Chinese government, such as Chinese government agencies banning employees from using iPhones.
Apple's stock price falls day after day after China reportedly notified government officials of ``banning the use of iPhone'' - GIGAZINE
Rich Bishop, CEO of app publisher AppInChina, said that by changing the rules to require app developers to submit ICP application licenses, ``Apple is one step closer to full compliance with Chinese regulations.'' .
On the other hand, several developers have expressed concern that ``Apple will further tighten regulations in order to fully comply with Chinese regulations.'' Jinyu Meng, an independent app developer, said, ``If my app can't be distributed in China without application, I will stop distributing my app in China.'' . Additionally, some Chinese iPhone users claim that they need to use an Apple account from another country to access their favorite apps.
In addition, under the new rules regarding ICP application licenses introduced in China, the transition period will end in March 2024, so apps that have not submitted appropriate notifications will be penalized, and newly distributed apps will be required to comply with the rules. there is.
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