[App Store] How can I change "Seller" name?

You had the chance to set the seller name when you uploaded your first app. The form told you that it was impossible to change the name later.

I expect that "impossible" really means "impossible without asking Apple to do it for you". So I'd suggest emailing them and asking.

I have the same "problem".

Yes, I suppose that I had a chance to change the name with my very first app (I don't really remember that), and I did change the company name for the app meta-information from my name to my company name, BUT never in a million years did I think Apple would display a "seller" name along with a company name in the App Store. I mean, what's the difference? Wouldn't Company name be good enough?

I did contact Apple requesting the change and did not EVER receive a reply.

It would be simplest for all, if Apple just removed the Seller name from the App Store display. That is private information, now made public.

Oh, I dunno. Accountability is nice.

Yes, accountability. When you bought your most recent Mac at the Apple Store, and you looked at the invoice, did it say "Seller: Steve Jobs"? No, you bought it from Apple.

If you are part of an actual, legally formed company, your company will be the seller. There are legal implications to pretending that the seller is an individual.

Doug

Yes, and as a corporation, Apple Inc is accountable. They don't get a free ride.

If you're interested in reducing your personal libability, I recommend Incorporation. It's not really that hard. I believe the US also has an LLC, which is even easier than incorporation.

I think a big problem with the interenet is anonyminity. If you want to provide services, I think everyone should get to know specifically what legal entity they are dealing with.

My company is an LLC, registered with Dunn & Bradstreet, and Apple has my bank account numbers, my federal tax ID number, and publishes my company website and support website. So, my company is accountable to the public.

It does not say "Anonymous" under my product description. Because my company is a legal entity, that should be enough - IT is the seller and not the CEO or individual developer.

Apple, remove the "Seller" field from application descriptions. It is redundant and invades my privacy and exposes me to personal attacks (I received "hate" mail, using my "seller" name - not the company's - during the first few days after the App Store opened because my app was not FREE!)

Than you should have joined as a Company rather than as a Indie Developer like everyone else who's using a Company did. 🙂

Email them and ask them to change to your company.

A quick browse of the AppStore reveals plenty of Apps that have the seller set to the company name.

An angry client is pushing me hard to release a commercial software under a personal account as well. I sure hope you've been out of touch and don't realize how bad some of us have it and more so every day, and not trying to be funny with that post.

I'm very curious what you mean--

If they (the client) have paid you to develop an application for them, then it shouldn't matter to you how they choose to publish it (as long as it's on their account).

If you're saying they want you to publish it for them, then I still don't see the problem-- the answer is "no" just because of tax issues if nothing else (i.e. any monies received are paid by Apple to you not to them, therefore you get to pay taxes on it-- at least in the US). The correct thing to do in this case is have them apply to the program themselves and publish under that account.

If there is more of a partnership going on (i.e. split of proceeds or the like), then the answer is still "no" because you should probably setup a dedicated LLC with both you and them as members to publish this, if only to ensure all obligations are met by all parties. The LLC should have an Developer Program account which is used to publish.

If the issue is simply that they are waiting on their account to be approved, there's still no problem as this is simply a cost of doing business that they should be aware of; much like any program that invites you to "apply", there is no guarantee that you will be accepted or approved.

In any case, who you are is immaterial as the end users of the application should never see it.

Perhaps I misunderstood what you were saying, however... feel free to correct me.

rob.

One of the problems with joining as a company is it takes forever to get approved. Glad you can set the names when you upload to your company name.

I wonder how many people have gone that route since Apple seems to not want to approve companies (or for whatever reason it's slower) ...

Well, they personally verify the Company name. For their reasons, they've decided to avoid approving companies quickly.

If you've signed up as an indie developer to avoid the company filter, than I'm afraid you've got what's coming to you.

I know that sounds harsh, but I think people have to accept (as I have with my still to be reviewed app in the queue.) that the iPhone AppStore is a harsh harsh mistress.

I think some people have developed for the AppStore with certain expectations, which I can understand will lead to frustration. After personally being through this before under different regimes and frameworks, and the frustration that comes with expectation, I've learned to simply expect nothing and keep myself carefully diversified.

I've also found it fruitless to complain on forums. My suggestion would be to find a better way to 'push'..

Personally, though, I've found the best way to vote against something has always been to use my feet, however.

blazespinnaker wrote:
If you've signed up as an indie developer to avoid the company filter, than I'm afraid you've got what's coming to you.

I know that sounds harsh ...

What it sounds like is not helpful. What's coming to those that have done it?

Personally, though, I've found the best way to vote against something has always been to use my feet, however.

Before running away, I like to explore my options.