If creating a mobile app is next on your business agenda, you're not alone. A recent report pegs mobile app revenue from the four major application stores at $2.1 billion in 2010. Revenue is forecast to grow a staggering 77.7% in 2011 to $3.8 billion, and smartphone adoption rates continue to increase.
Whether your app is destined for an Angry Birds-like following or will serve a more niche market, your development checklist should address traditional legal items for a new business venture. Given the broad consumer audience t hat comes with many mobile apps, it's helpful to keep in mind the types of issues tracked closely by the consumer protection bar, consumer advocates, regulators and private litigants.
Their scrutiny essentially boils down to two core questions:
- Are there any unexpected (bad) surprises connected with your app from a user experience — namely, does the app clearly convey all potential monetary charges (both initial download and in-app options)?
- What information from the user and the device will be collected and shared with others, and was that clearly disclosed and consented to before data was collected/shared?
Failure to identify and address these issues can result in complaints and negative media coverage and quickly turn positive app buzz into formal inquiries and lawsuits. The Wall Street Journal‘s ongoing "What They Know" series, among other media exposés, has helped generate some of this unwanted attention for a number of parties in the mobile...
