As per Forbes, there are 8.93 million applications in the world giving a good sense of profitability, utility, and widespreadness to all. There is high demand for mobile application development among all. This rise has translated into many legal issues for all. Read this blog to know 5 major legal issues.
Why Are Mobile Apps So Popular?
Mobile apps are one of the most popular things on smartphones and other mobile devices. Applications are very convenient thanks to its mobility features. Besides that, anyone can access them from anywhere through their mobile.
Mobile app users tend to be more engaged with them than users of traditional web browsers. Every 18 minutes, the typical mobile phone user checks their phone. Making it a highly profitable model for businesses to launch apps by choosing mobile application development platforms.
Why is it Necessary to Consider Legal Issues in Mobile Application Development?
- Helping in setting up indemnification process for websites
- Facilities faster and smoother growth without legal roadblocks
- Best way to mitigate and alter future liabilities that may arise due to legal battles.
- Works as a base for you to have solid policies
- Increases end users’ confidence as they feel you’re a legally bound entity
- Brings authority and high ranking at app stores
Five Legal Issues To Consider During Mobile Application Development Services
Confidentiality Agreement
App development process passes through the steps starting with project requirement discussion to post-production support. In between, multiple teams work on various fronts for UI/UX design, wireframing, app development, QnA testing, app launch, and more.
What if someone from your team or the third party involved in the development process leaked the information to the public? It could be damaging for businesses, right? The first and foremost thing is signing non-disclosing agreements or NDA agreements with producers, developers, partners, clients, and other stakeholders. Only experienced mobile app development companies that are well versed with the significance of security & privacy and agree to abide by your confidentiality clause.
It helps in preventing secret information from getting leaked to the public along with illegal sharing of data, design, and software prototypes.
Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Clauses
To safeguard their interests, businesses use various intellectual property rights clauses. Make sure you are not providing any data, graphics, logo, or work to a top mobile app development company that is guarded by intellectual property rights by others. Moreover, you also need to use these property rights for your businesses.
- Copyright: It ensures that you have the necessary rights to use any third-party libraries, frameworks, or code in your app. While doing app development, it is necessary to respect copyright laws and licensing agreements.
- Trademarks: Avoid using trademarks or branding that could infringe on others’ rights. You require registering your own trademarks if necessary to protect your app’s name and logo.
- Patents: Be aware of existing patents in your app’s domain to avoid infringement. Consider patenting your unique app features if applicable.
Jurisdiction Or Hyper Local Legal Issues
Jurisdiction or demography-specific laws exist and you need to be mindful of that. Let’s say, betting. It is illegal in various parts of the world. So before making the application live, conventions, treaties, jurisdiction laws, and other local rules/policies play a role.
You can include appropriate disclaimers in your app to limit liability for issues such as data loss, errors, or misuse. We also recommend you to try consulting with legal counsel to assess potential liabilities and mitigate risks.
Agreements with Mobile Device Manufacture, App Store And Other Stakeholders
Every app developer wants to make sure their app is available on as many devices as possible. To do this, most developers sign agreements with mobile device manufacturers (MDFs), and app stores like Android and ios.
The better defined the agreements, the smoother application’s growth without any legal hurdles. Have well-documented agreements with MDFs and app stores.
Draft contracts with mobile app development platform providers, developers, designers, and other collaborators outlining their roles, responsibilities, and compensation. If outsourcing development, ensure you have a clear agreement with the development firm, including intellectual property rights and confidentiality clauses.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Do you trust your mobile apps with your personal information? If not, you may want to read the terms of use and privacy policy before downloading an app. Some apps require sign-in with Facebook/Google and other accounts, some request access to location data or microphone input and things like that.
Develop these terms and conditions by involving experts for both Browsewrap and Clickwrap agreements.
Clearly inform users about what data your app collects and how it will be used. Comply with data protection laws like GDPR (in Europe) and CCPA (in California). Also obtain explicit user consent for collecting and processing personal information. Draft clear and comprehensive terms of service and privacy policies that users can easily access and understand.
Final Word
The app development process is evolving, making legal angles a part of the process. The top mobile app development company researches all the legal factors and delivers bespoke apps for businesses of all sizes. Do you want our help in building an app that will help your business succeed? If yes, connect with the right app development company.