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I think the developer fee is something on the order of $100 per year. If you can't pay that because of low revenue, then there's no reason to go chasing/helpin

I think the developer fee is something on the order of $100 per year. If you can't pay that because of low revenue, then there's no reason to go chasing/helping customers who bought via the app store since the never generated enough revenue in the first place. Now if you're just about to switch to a new distribution system, not because of revenue issues, then you maintain your developer fee and publish one last update which allows paid users to register their versions in the new system.

kranner 6y ago
> there's no reason to go chasing/helping customers who bought via the app store since the never generated enough revenue in the first place How does that follow? An individual customer is not responsible for the commercial viability of the app, in order to continue to receive a service they have already paid for. In this case the service is permanent access to the last version of the app, even if the developer is no longer able to support it.
- OldHand2018 6y ago
  I just wrote above: the customer can keep using the app as long as they keep the app. Even when they get a new computer. If an app is removed from the App Store, it’s gone from the App Store, that’s all.
  - kranner 6y ago
    Sure, but many Mac users don't expect to have to do this (or even know how to) because Macs are supposed to "just work".
    - OldHand2018 6y ago
      Well, a requirement of the App Store is that the application is self-contained, so all you have to do is go to the Applications folder (a default location in your finder) and drag/drop the app to your usb drive, etc. It does just work.
- true_religion 6y ago
  They can keep their app. What's being discussed is that you have to maintain your app-store presence in order to help them migrate to your new distribution system. If you're doing that because of low revenue.... just abandon the low revenue customers.
  - kranner 6y ago
    > If you're doing that because of low revenue.... just abandon the low revenue customers. I understood the pragmatism of the advice. I'm just saying there is an ethical obligation to users, which really should be on Apple to continue to allow users to download the version of the app they have bought.
    - true_religion 6y ago
      Ah, well in that case I agree. Apple should allow it, especially since they're the ones who jostled to become a middleman to 'protect' their users.

kranner 6y ago

> there's no reason to go chasing/helping customers who bought via the app store since the never generated enough revenue in the first place How does that follow? An individual customer is not responsible for the commercial viability of the app, in order to continue to receive a service they have already paid for. In this case the service is permanent access to the last version of the app, even if the developer is no longer able to support it.

OldHand2018 6y ago
I just wrote above: the customer can keep using the app as long as they keep the app. Even when they get a new computer. If an app is removed from the App Store, it’s gone from the App Store, that’s all.
- kranner 6y ago
  Sure, but many Mac users don't expect to have to do this (or even know how to) because Macs are supposed to "just work".
  - OldHand2018 6y ago
    Well, a requirement of the App Store is that the application is self-contained, so all you have to do is go to the Applications folder (a default location in your finder) and drag/drop the app to your usb drive, etc. It does just work.
true_religion 6y ago
They can keep their app. What's being discussed is that you have to maintain your app-store presence in order to help them migrate to your new distribution system. If you're doing that because of low revenue.... just abandon the low revenue customers.
- kranner 6y ago
  > If you're doing that because of low revenue.... just abandon the low revenue customers. I understood the pragmatism of the advice. I'm just saying there is an ethical obligation to users, which really should be on Apple to continue to allow users to download the version of the app they have bought.
  - true_religion 6y ago
    Ah, well in that case I agree. Apple should allow it, especially since they're the ones who jostled to become a middleman to 'protect' their users.