Hey Richard,
If I may, I do feel like the distinction between ‘rules’ and ‘guidelines’ is a bit pedantic. The App Store review guidelines at https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ do also use the term “rule” frequently throughout the text. For example, they say, “We hope these guidelines help you sail through the review process, and that approvals and rejections remain consistent across the board. This is a living document; new apps presenting new questions may result in new rules at any time.” In this case the guideline I referenced, 3.1.2, states: “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.” This is pretty clear in my view, it’s essentially saying, don’t try to charge for something a user already bought, don’t take away purchases users already made. And that Apple page says they hope the guidelines will be enforced consistently across the board. The guideline also makes common sense to me. For example, I wouldn’t sell you a music album, then expect you to rent it out later. This looks pretty clear-cut to me. You are absolutely right that it may not turn out to be an issue for this developer. The Apple reviewers may not notice, they might notice but let it slide, the guidelines may be changed, something else might happen. However at this point, it’s pretty clear that Apple doesn’t want developers to rent out features that users already bought. Grant Hardy On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 9:32 AM Richard Turner <[email protected]> wrote: > People have been quoting an Apple guideline for Developers concerning > Voice Dream Reader changing to a subscription model and changing people's > access to new content etc. > > I decided to look at definitions. Here is the Marium Webster dictionary > definition of "Guidelines:" > > - a line by which one is guided: such as > > *a**:* a cord or rope to aid a passer over a difficult point or to permit > retracing a course > > *b**:* an indication or outline of policy or conduct > > Now, a rule is quite different and since Apple uses guidelines and not > rules, a developer is not required to strictly adhere to anyone's > interpretation of a guideline in my opinion. Here is the Marium Webster > definition of rules: > Definition (Entry 1 of 2) > > - *1**a**:* a prescribed guide for conduct or action > > *b**:* the laws or regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious > order for observance by its members > > *c**:* an accepted procedure, custom, or habit > > *d**(1)**:* a usually written order or direction made by a court > regulating court practice or the action of parties > > *(2)**:* a legal precept or doctrine > > *e**:* a regulation or bylaw governing procedure or controlling conduct > > - *2**a**(1)**:* a usually valid generalization > > *(2)**:* a generally prevailing quality, state, or mode *//*fair weather > was the *rule*yesterday — *The New York Times* > > *b**:* a standard of judgment *:*CRITERION > > *c**:* a regulating principle > > *d**:* a determinate method for performing a mathematical operation and > obtaining a certain result > > - *3**a**:* the exercise of authority or control *:* DOMINION > > *b**:* a period during which a specified ruler or government exercises > control > > - *4**a**:* a strip of material marked off in units used especially > for measuring *:* RULER sense 3, TAPE MEASURE > > *b**:* a metal strip with a type-high face that prints a linear design > > *also* *:* a linear design produced by or as if by such a strip > > - *as a rule* > > *:* for the most part *:* GENERALLY > > > > > > > > Richard, USA > > “Grandma always told us, “Be careful when you pray for patience. God > stores it on the other side of Hell and you will have to go through Hell to > get it.” > > -- Cedrick Bridgeforth > > > > My web site: https://www.turner42.com/ > > -- > 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: > [email protected]. 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