Apple Waives Developer Program Membership Fees for NGOs, Governments

Apple has announced a new scheme that allows governments and non-profit organisations access to an Apple Developer Program Membership for free.

According to a report from TechCrunch, Apple now allows non-profit organisations, accredited educational institutions, and government entities in the US can apply to have the $99 USD annual fee waived, so long as they only release entirely free apps on the store.

Apple’s intention to allow free developer memberships for the aforementioned organizations in the United States was first announced in December when the Cupertino company updated the guidelines for the App Store.

The move comes in response to complaints directed at the company when it banned apps generated from templates last year, according to TechCrunch. That earlier decision was designed to set a quality standard for apps on the store and to eliminate duplicative apps, but it would also have barred many apps developed by third parties for schools and other organizations.

As a work-around, Apple is barring those third parties from submitting apps in their clients’ names, but opening the developer program to the client organizations so they can submit their apps themselves.

New members must submit a fee waiver request after they have submitted an enrollment request. Current developer program members can have future fees waived by submitting a waiver request any time before their current membership expires. Apple will review each fee waiver request.

For more information, or to apply for a membership or membership fee waiver, visit developer.apple.com.

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