Mobile App
Who Should Own the Source Code and Store Account of Your App?
What to clarify in the contract about source code, store accounts, intellectual property and maintenance when commissioning an app.
The issues that cause the most trouble years after launch are often who holds the source code, in whose name the store account is and whether someone else can continue development. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Source code
Whether source code is delivered, when and in what form is defined by the contract. There is no single right answer, but leaving it unclear creates problems. Also ask how third-party library licenses are handled and whether another team could continue the work.
Store account
Publishing requires developer accounts in the iOS and Android stores. For long-term ownership an account in the business's own name is often preferred; who runs the release and who pays fees should be written down at the start.
Intellectual property and usage rights
Designs, code, brand and content should have clearly stated ownership and usage rights, usually separating custom parts from reusable general components.
Maintenance and support
After launch, operating system updates, bug fixes and new needs continue. Define who does what, in which scope and through which communication channel.
Contract checklist
At Senin Soft, source code delivery, usage rights, intellectual property scope and maintenance responsibilities are defined explicitly in the project contract.
- Source code delivery and usage rights
- Store account ownership and release responsibility
- Intellectual property scope
- Maintenance and support scope
- Confidentiality and data responsibilities
- Change requests and acceptance
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