Recently, the APP Store in mainland China has introduced additional review requirements, requesting developers to provide filing information. This may divert the time and efforts of foreign developers. I would like to inquire whether the policies in mainland China will affect Agenda.
We haven’t seen or heard anything about these requirements and Apple has accepted our recent updates so it hasn’t affected anything so far.
Ah sorry, I now know what you refer to, no, this doesn’t affect Agenda as it’s not a game nor in one of the other categories that requires the extra registration process.
information
Chinese law requires additional documentation for some apps to be available on the App Store in China mainland.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) requires that apps possess a valid Internet Content Provider (ICP) Filing Number. In addition, games must secure an approval number and apps with books and magazine content must secure an internet publishing permit from China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA). Apps with religious content must secure an Internet Religious Information Permit from China’s National Religious Affairs Administration (NRAA). Apps with news content must obtain an Internet News Information Permit from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). If you offer or plan to offer any of these on the App Store in China mainland, you must provide the required information along with one or more supporting documents.
If applicable, provide the required ICP filing information in the designated section under the “App Information” tab. To help verify your approval number, upload your game’s ISBN Issuing Letter or Approval Reply, and a copy of your latest Business License. Additionally, you can include an authorization agreement from the matching operator. To help verify your publishing permit, upload your internet publishing permit or other relevant permit from the NPPA, a publishing permit authorization letter from the authorizing party, a business license, an ICP license, or similar supporting documentation. To help verify your Internet Religious Information Permit, upload your Internet Religious Information Permit, a permit authorization letter from the authorizing party, a business license, an ICP license, or similar supporting documentation. To help verify your Internet News Information Permit, upload your Internet News Information Permit, a permit authorization letter from the authorizing party, a business license, an ICP license, or similar supporting documentation.
It’s not clear yet what “some apps” are. Agenda doesn’t seem to fit any of the categories given (eg games, news, etc)
Apple are in discussion with the Chinese government about this. We will await the outcome, and if we are legally required to leave the Chinese store, we will probably have to do that. For now, we will wait and see.
Based on domestic sources in China, it appears that this will include all apps. In this case, the additional review requirements will increase compliance costs for foreign developers, consuming a significant amount of time and effort on seemingly meaningless tasks. Consequently, many excellent apps, such as Agenda, may choose to withdraw from the Chinese version of the App Store, which is regrettable for Chinese users. Many independent Chinese developers have also strongly criticized this policy on platforms like Twitter, but they feel powerless to effect any change.
Thank you for your clarification, that would be very sad indeed For us it will be hard to make the point to the Chinese Government that this will only have downsides for Chinese consumers, hopefully they will listen to the Chinese developer community and bigger companies like Apple…