Legal Considerations for Mobile App Developers

General (non-technical) Off-Topic
#1

Hi,

I found { the following article } interesting, and thought that some of you might also be interested in learning more about certain legal considerations for mobile app developers.

Here is an excerpt :

As a small business lawyer and apps developer (KIDiPLAY Match and KIDiLEARN Russian Alphabet apps available on the App Store), I would like to share with you some of the legal concerns or considerations that often arise when developing an app. Some of these are common to many startup businesses, while other considerations relate specifically to app development. Obviously, this list is not exhaustive (one could, and maybe should, write a book about it).

The writer gives advices about :

  • structuring your company

  • work-for-hire agreements

  • protecting your ideas

  • copyright registration

  • trademark registration

  • using copyrighted works

Here is a link to the article : { Legal Considerations for Mobile App Developers }, that you can find on the blog at [{ “moms with apps”]](http://momswithapps.com)

Note : I am not affiliated to the site. It’s just that appreciate to share articles that I found useful.
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#2

Thanks for posting this, interesting stuff.
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#3

I am curious, how many other app developers formed a LLC or corporation before releasing their first app? I’m considering doing this, but it’s an additional cost/time investment that would further push back my release date.
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#4

Thanks for the “Moms With Apps” link.  There’s definitely worthwhile info there.  My partners and I formed an LLC before releasing anything.  We wanted to release it as a group with a company name.  We also planned on doing multiple apps together.  Looking ahead, an LLC made sense.

We incorporated in Georgia because that’s where our business guy lives, but that meant the other two of us have to pay GA state income tax on our earnings from this business.  I live in a state where I wouldn’t otherwise have to pay any state tax.  I know states like Delaware, Nevada and Wyoming are popular places to incorporate for tax and legal reasons.  We’re considering moving to one of those states, but there are concerns about having a company in a state where none of us physically live, finding a registered agent, the complexity of transferring our company to that state, etc.

Is anyone out there willing to share some of your experience with incorporating?  Where did you do it and why?  Do you have any advice or…where do you go for advice?

Thanks in advance!
Jason

#5

Thanks for posting this, interesting stuff.

#6

Jason - I love WYoming for corp stuff. They were the first state to do LLC’s and even today have one LLC structure no one else has. I call it friends and Family - it’s a very easy to setup LLC that allows non related people living in different places to form an LLC without the managing member stuphs and tax liabilities other corp forms may have. 

The tax structure there is also very very friendly. And getting and using an in State agent is also very easy under their rules. I’ve used NOLO for many of my corp legal answers - here’s a direct link to their WYO page
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/wyoming-form-llc-32046.html

and a link to the Wyoming State page http://soswy.state.wy.us/  This site also has the downloadable forms for you. I must caution you that WYoming does business a little differently than other states. Don’t be surprised to get a phone call from the Secretary of State if you make a mistake on your filings. A friendly phone call, with a human who actually answers your questions and helps you! Best business state I’ve ever found, and I’ve used five of them including Ohio, Nevada, Arizona and Delaware over the years.

#7

Thanks for the “Moms With Apps” link.  There’s definitely worthwhile info there.  My partners and I formed an LLC before releasing anything.  We wanted to release it as a group with a company name.  We also planned on doing multiple apps together.  Looking ahead, an LLC made sense.

We incorporated in Georgia because that’s where our business guy lives, but that meant the other two of us have to pay GA state income tax on our earnings from this business.  I live in a state where I wouldn’t otherwise have to pay any state tax.  I know states like Delaware, Nevada and Wyoming are popular places to incorporate for tax and legal reasons.  We’re considering moving to one of those states, but there are concerns about having a company in a state where none of us physically live, finding a registered agent, the complexity of transferring our company to that state, etc.

Is anyone out there willing to share some of your experience with incorporating?  Where did you do it and why?  Do you have any advice or…where do you go for advice?

Thanks in advance!
Jason

#8

Thanks for posting this, interesting stuff.

#9

Jason - I love WYoming for corp stuff. They were the first state to do LLC’s and even today have one LLC structure no one else has. I call it friends and Family - it’s a very easy to setup LLC that allows non related people living in different places to form an LLC without the managing member stuphs and tax liabilities other corp forms may have. 

The tax structure there is also very very friendly. And getting and using an in State agent is also very easy under their rules. I’ve used NOLO for many of my corp legal answers - here’s a direct link to their WYO page
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/wyoming-form-llc-32046.html

and a link to the Wyoming State page http://soswy.state.wy.us/  This site also has the downloadable forms for you. I must caution you that WYoming does business a little differently than other states. Don’t be surprised to get a phone call from the Secretary of State if you make a mistake on your filings. A friendly phone call, with a human who actually answers your questions and helps you! Best business state I’ve ever found, and I’ve used five of them including Ohio, Nevada, Arizona and Delaware over the years.