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I've written an iOS app, and I'd like to release it on to the App Store. I'm an individual so it's not being released via a company or anything, just me.

Is it typical to just release a free app under your own name? If so, what would be appropriate copyright information to submit?

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    The copyright would be owned by you.
    – Ramhound
    Jan 7, 2013 at 18:06
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    For anyone voting to close - why? This is very much on-topic. Not only is it a freelancing and business concern, it's also related to software distribution, which affects any developer trying to distribute their software.
    – Thomas Owens
    Jan 7, 2013 at 18:06
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    @ThomasOwens I'm voting off topic, because this seems to be a basic support question to ask Apple directly in its current state.
    – Ryathal
    Jan 7, 2013 at 18:21
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    @Ryathal I can understand Apple (or any other app market) providing technical support, I don't think they would explain various options and trade-offs that exist with each one.
    – Thomas Owens
    Jan 7, 2013 at 18:24
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    This question is being discussed in our Meta site, if you have an opinion on whether it's on or off topic please post it there.
    – yannis
    Jan 7, 2013 at 21:37

2 Answers 2

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I'm an individual that has an app on the App Store, you can of course submit it as individual (Apple has different developer accounts for companies & "solo programmers").

For sure the copyright of the material is yours, just add a simple message (not really needed, indeed) like "© 2012 John Smith" somewhere in your app to be sure.

Please also consider that anybody can copy your material and/or ideas on the App Store, lots of people clones successful apps there. If your idea is so valuable consider also to apply for a registered trademark or similar.

P.S.
Your app is free as you said, but if you're trying to get some money from that just be sure to check what taxes you have to pay in your country.

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It is typical to release free/paid apps on AppStore as individual as you can see there are many individual submit apps in the AppStore. The verification process of registering or upgrading as organisation is long. Sometime we release app as individual and then upgrade to organisation because of this.

For the copyright, it is ok to set copyright as others in Version information in iTunes Connect,e.g., You created an account with Thomas Owen but you fill in the copyright as Owen Inc. The same could be apply in the launch screen or other information in you apps.

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