News

Apple has announced, on their developer connection page, their decision to drop the iPhone’s non-disclosure agreement (NDA):

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.

You’ll notice this newfound freedom only covers “released software,” meaning Apple will still maintain an iron grip on apps in development, and subsequently apps that never get “released” — sorta helpful when they control that release process, right?

We guess Apple is still tired of problem apps causing a ruckus, as evidenced by their extension of the NDA to cover rejection letters just last week. But hey, we’re not here to be a killjoy — this is progress for the Cupertino Co., so feel free to indulge in those warm fuzzy feelings, and let the “collaboration” begin!