Mobile apps

The word ‘app’ is a shorthand term for a software application. A mobile app is an application which is designed to run on a mobile device, such as a tablet.

The ever-increasing popularity of tablets, smartphones and other personal computing devices has created substantial demand among users for apps that can be used on those devices. This demand has created opportunities for companies and individuals to develop a wide array of apps to meet users’ needs.

When entering into agreements for the development of apps, there a number of issues that the parties need to consider, and which should be agreed at the outset of a project. These include the scope of any development work being undertaken, and the specifications and customer requirements of the app being developed, along with ownership of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and any limitations on liability. For a mobile application development agreement which is intended for use between two businesses in which a supplier is engaged to develop a mobile app for a business customer, see Precedents: Mobile application development agreement—pro-customer and Mobile application development agreement—pro-supplier.

Monetising apps is not always straightforward.