“Tensions between Russia and the U.S. over Crimea are spilling into the world of tech: developers are reporting that Apple is sending out notices of termination to people whose accounts are registered in Crimea, citing sanctions that the U.S. has ordered against the region as a response to Russia annexing it earlier in 2014,” Ingrid Lunden reports for TechCrunch.
The note in full:
This letter Serves as Notice of termination of the Registered Apple Developer Agreement (the “Agreement RAD”) Between you and Apple, Effective immediately.
Apple May terminate your Status as Registered Apple Developer A at Any time at ITS Sole Discretion Under the RAD Agreement. The new sanctions on the Crimea Region announced by the US Government on December 19, 2014 and announced by the European Commission on December 18, 2014 prohibit the continuation of the RAD Agreement between you and Apple. For more information, please review Executive Order 13685 and the European Commission Notice.
We Would like to remind you of your Obligations with regard to software and All Other Confidential information you That Obtained from Apple as A Registered Apple Developer. You must promptly Cease All use of and destroy such materials and Comply with All the Other Obligations set forth termination in the RAD Agreement.
“Apple’s move is in response to an Executive Order signed by U.S. President Barack Obama on December 19, which describes ‘additional steps to address the Russian occupation of the Crimea,'” Lunden reports. “The U.S. has sided with Ukraine in opposing Russia’s annexation of it in March 2014, and these measures — made to fall in line with similar sanctions crafted by the European Union — are intended to tighten the screws on Russia to relent.”
Read more in the full article here.