Microsoft recently released a revised version of Microsoft Store Policies, which is a set of rules that every developer must follow when publishing items in the Microsoft Store. The latest 7.16 release brings a few changes, one of which will make it harder for bad developers to use free open source software to trick people into paying.
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In the current Microsoft Store, we occasionally see very expensive 7zip revamped apps or extremely expensive Google Chrome “user guides”. The new rules now prohibit publishing such apps, and stores will not allow overcharging or setting unreasonably high prices.
Clause 10.8.7 of version 7.16 states as follows:
Where you determine to price for products or in-app purchases, all pricing (including sales or discounts) for your digital products or services must:
- Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and regulatory guidelines, including but not limited to the Federal Trade Commission Anti-Deceptive Pricing Guidelines.
- Don’t try to profit from the open source or other software that is usually available for free, and don’t try to overprice the features and functionality your product offers.
Moreover, Microsoft Store will also ban counterfeit software, which means that no third-party apps can imitate Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or other developers’ products. This rule, combined with the new pricing policy, is expected to crack down on some bad developers trying to make money by going the wrong way.
