People that have signed up to be a Microsoft Application Developer have started getting emails in their inbox on October 30th, 2023. This email mentions new changes into both the Application Developer Agreement and also the Store Policies, with both changes to the updated agreement/policies being effective on November 30th, 2023.
When it comes to the Application Developer Agreement, the changes are mostly related to requirements made by the EU Digital Services Act, to which Microsoft has added some new sections to the agreement:
Microsoft's Application Developer Agreement said:
Publish Date: Oct 30, 2023, Version 8.9
Effective Date: Nov 30, 2023
- Updated language, Section 2, Removed clause allowing Microsoft to use provided contact information for marketing communications
- Updated language, Section 2, Defined a company vs trader account
- Updated Section 3, I, Disclosures and information supporting EU Digital Services Act appeals requirements
- Updated Section 3 j; 4 k; 2; Removed Microsoft Store for Business and Microsoft Store for Education through document
- Added language; Section 12 g, Adding language required by the EU Digital Services Act to requiring access to out-of-court dispute settlement process
As for the Store Policies, the
full list of changes has been listed, adding changes in regards to data collection and/or minor/child related guidelines, as well as the removal of references to the Xbox One. The rest of the changes range from word changes to other varied modifications to other minor things.
Microsoft's Store Policies said:
New 10.4.3 Policy setting guidelines for a discontinued or merged app.
New 10.4.4 added policy setting guidelines for reasonable download time.
New 10.5.8 Explicit policy around collection of child data.
New 11.14 Policy outlining gambling requirements and restrictions.
Update to 10.1 Extends game franchise hub to PC and requires them to be categorized as games.
Update to 10.1.5 Clarifies that the product must be distributed/acquired through the Store.
Update to 10.1.6 Excludes game franchise hubs from being submitted as Storefronts, which are subject to app policies and commercial terms.
Update to 10.2.4 Clarified wording dependency on non Microsoft provided driver or NT service.
Update to 10.2.6 Provide more clarity around cryptocurrency wallets and trading platforms.
Update to 10.2.8 Added a link to the blog post for “A principled approach to app pinning and app defaults in Windows”.
Update to 10.4.1 “should” to “must” to reiterate the importance.
Update 10.4.2 Remove 10.4.3 copy and move to 10.4.2
Update to 10.8.1 Providing clarification on disallowing any real-world value exchange in game with a clearer policy.
Update to 10.8.2 Tightened up language to provide clarity around 3P billing requirements and restrictions.
Update to 10.8.3 clarification around accounts requiring financial information.
Update to 10.10.2 & 10.10.3 consolidated 10.10.3 into 10.10.2
Update to 10.13.2 Removed reference to Xbox One.
Update to 10.13.3 Removed reference to Xbox One.
Update to 11.2 Updating IP infringement verbiage to align with what will be updated in the Report an App feature.
Update to 11.13 Strengthen language around limiting access to mature/adult content to minors. |
It is important to note, however, that these new changes
require anyone with a Developer account to login back into their account and manually agree to both the Application Dev and Store Policies changes, so for those that have registered for a dev account on Microsoft, make sure to properly read through the documents and, if the user desires, properly agree to the new changes.
Microsoft Application Developer Agreement
Microsoft Store Policies
