While Vimeo is responsible for the maintenance and updates of your OTT Mobile and TV Applications, it is your responsibility as the account owner to ensure your application platform developer accounts are in good standing. This article discusses the importance of checking your developer account agreements and how to proactively check them.
In this article
- Why should I check my developer account agreements?
- What to check in my Apple developer account (iOS + tvOS)
- What to check in my Google developer account (Android + Android TV)
- What to check in my Amazon developer account (Fire Tablet + Fire TV)
- What to check in my Roku developer account
- What to check in my Microsoft developer account (XBOX)
Why should I check my developer account agreements?
Each platform will periodically update its terms and policies and, in some instances, require your action to agree to them. In most cases, users should receive notifications of these impending changes or updates to available agreements and settings.
Even if you do not receive a notification, we recommend checking all developer accounts at a regular interval to ensure everything is up-to-date. Because you are the account owner, Vimeo cannot accept these agreements on your behalf.
If you do not take the necessary action to agree to updated terms and policies, your developer account may no longer be in good standing with that platform. If your developer account(s) are not in good standing, Vimeo cannot submit application updates on your behalf, and it may also impact your apps' availability, purchases, renewals, and payouts.
What to check in my Apple developer account (iOS + tvOS)
Within App Store Connect, you will want to ensure the following are completed:
Developer Account Membership
Unlike other application platforms, your Apple Developer account membership needs to be renewed every year. Follow the steps Apple's developer site outlines to ensure you enable auto-renewal. The Account Holder will also be regularly asked to agree to any new terms, and you may see this banner
If you do not agree to the updated terms or allow your developer account to expire, your application will be removed from the Apple App Store, and all in-app purchasing functionality will cease until you renew.
Apple Agreements
If any of your Apple agreements expire, you will see a notification at the top of the screen within App Store Connect.
You must ensure you have completed the following agreements:
- Free Applications Agreement: This is a general Apple developer agreement that allows your application to be published on the Apple App Store.
-
Paid Apps Agreement: This is needed if you are a paid service (SVOD and/or TVOD IAP).
- ⚠️ Note: Allowing your Paid Apps Agreement to expire will cause all in-app purchasing to fail within your application. This includes removing the ability for new subscribers to purchase as well as disabling existing subscriber renewals.
If you see Expired, Pending or New Agreement Available, take any action required to resolve the status.
Compliance
Apple has introduced a new compliance regulation for the Digital Services Act, which affects your application if it's meant to be distributed within the European Union ("EU"). Even if you do not intend to distribute within the EU, be sure to complete this section.
Banking and tax information
Apple may flag that they require more information about your submitted banking and/or tax details in a notification in App Store Connect. You can update this information within the Bank Accounts and Tax Information sections of the Agreements page.
Failure to update this information may affect your payout from Apple.
What to check in my Google developer account (Android + Android TV)
Within the Google Play developer console, you will want to ensure the following are completed:
Payments profile
- This is needed if you are a paid service (SVOD and/or TVOD IAP).
- Google will flag any issue on the main page of your developer console dashboard.
- The notification can appear as red (more serious) or yellow. Regardless of notification color, aim to resolve it as soon as possible.
- If there are issues with your Payment profile, it may result in your revenue payouts being delayed or cause purchasing and renewal issues for your in-app users.
- This section can be accessed via the Settings menu. Select Monetization, then Payments Profile.
What to check in my Amazon developer account (Fire Tablet + Fire TV)
Within the Amazon developer console, you will want to ensure the following are completed:
-
Tax Identity
- Royalty Tax Interview: This is needed if you are a paid service (SVOD and/or TVOD IAP).
- Canada Tax Interview: This is needed if you are a paid service (SVOD and/or TVOD IAP) and intend to have your application geo-available in Canada.
- The Service Tax Interview can be left in the "Incomplete" status.
- Payment and Benefits: Submit your Payment Information. This is needed if you are a paid service (SVOD and/or TVOD IAP).
What to check in my Roku developer account
Within the Roku developer console, you will want to ensure the following are completed:
-
Roku Partner Payout Program enrollment
- This is needed if you are a paid service (SVOD and/or TVOD IAP).
What to check in my Microsoft developer account (XBOX)
App Developer Agreement: Once a year, Microsoft requires the developer account owner to accept the new App Developer agreement they provide.