In this week's post, we see that Apple and Google will introduce new privacy standards in their respective app stores that put stricter requirements on app developers that will come into effect in 2022.

Plus, eCommerce businesses should understand how “human capital” plays an important role in a successful online business and understand how legal agreements can best address requirements and expectations.

New App Privacy Standards to Be Required by Apple and Google

Earlier this summer, both Google and Apple announced that they would implement new changes to their respective app stores to set new app privacy standards and requirements to protect consumers. This means that, beginning in 2022, the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store will have heightened privacy standards.

For Apple and its App Store, Apple will now require that all mobile apps that pass through the App Store allow users to create accounts to enable deletion of their user accounts from within the app.  Google, on the other hand, will require mobile app developers to complete a Google Data Safety form when submitting their mobile apps to the Google Play Store.  The information provided by the app developers will be available to users that download the app if they choose to view the information in a new "Data Safety" section that Google will implement in the Google Play Store in 2022.

Read about why privacy proponents are excited about these new steps.

Human Capital in eCommerce and Internet-Based Businesses

(This is Part 6 of a series covering core legal issues for eCommerce and Internet-based businesses.)

Even in a technology-based business, a significant amount of enterprise value is created by and relies upon the creativity, energy, and efforts of people.

People serve as managers and executives, developers and creatives, marketing a sale, operations, fulfillment, installation, as well as repair and tech support.  These people produce content, create and implement business strategies, and manage operations for eCommerce businesses.  In doing so, they may be creating liabilities, sharing secrets, poaching clients, or doing all number of things – intentionally, as well as unintentionally – that can create liability or cause harm to ecommerce businesses. 

So, even though people are often critical to the success of an eCommerce business, relationships between the eCommerce business and these people must be defined and covered by clear and enforceable legal agreements.

Read more here.

For more posts, see our Ideate blog for the latest news and insights into law, business, and culture.

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In addition to publishing Thriving Attorney, Darin M. Klemchuk is founder of Klemchuk LLP, a litigation, intellectual property, and transactional law firm located in Dallas, Texas. Click to read more about Darin Klemchuk's practice as an intellectual property lawyer. For more on the latest developments in IP law, see the blogs Ideate and IP Questions Answered.