While Apple enjoys having billions in the bank, some iPhone developers are having a hard time getting paid
While it seems that Apple is having no problems whatsoever selling iPhone apps in the App Store, and taking money for them, the Cupertino giant is slow in passing on the developer's share of the take.
Over on the iPhone Dev SDK website a bunch of developers seem to be having a very hard time getting Apple to pay them the money that they are contractually owed. Here are a few example:
April 16th I used to get paid on time every month. I've been making money since July of 2008. But starting in Nov/Dec things started getting really bad.
I am now missing $1300 from EU region for Jan, and six regions (except US) for Feb which totals $900.
I'm getting p*ssed off Apple!
Anyone got a phone number where I can talk to someone about this? All emails are going unanswered.
April 30th Hey,
I am in the same situation. Apple owes me payments from December 2008, January 2009, and February 2009. However, I have been getting financial reports and used to always get payments very promptly. Apple doesn't seem to respond to my emails and they owe me almost $25000 over the three months. I just wish there was a number I could call, I am really starting to get tired of this waiting game
April 30th I'm owed a load of money also. Sadly I think it is time for the lawyers. I've made every effort to play nice ball. Not even an autoreply to my emails. I've received one payment for one region of many owed so my banking details are clearly fine.
I have a house, mortgage, kids etc and Apple now owe me 1,000's.
On the same website is another thread where one developer is told by an Apple representative to "Please stop emailing us."
Hello
Please stop emailing us. Your 22 emails in the past two days is bordering harassment. We receive a thousand emails a day, and will respond as soon as we can.
Kind regards,
Dean Migchelbrink | iTunes Finance | Apple Inc
I've spoken to one developer who is still awaiting payment for from December 08 to February 09 (remember that the contractual waiting period for a payment is 45 days, which meant that for the Feb period this was up on April 15th). The developer, who wishes to remain nameless for fear that they could be kicked off the developer program for speaking out, told me that while Apple was "quick to take the $99 developer fee," getting paid "feels increasingly unlikely."
It seems ridiculous to me that a company that has billions in the bank, and which charges developers both an upfront fee and takes 30% from each sale can't get its act together well enough to make sure that those developers are paid in a timely fashion. After all, it's these developers who are making the iPhone platform the success it is.
Anyone here an iPhone dev? Have you been paid or are you waiting for your cash?