Apple cancels iFixit's developer account following NDA violation

iFixit, the site best known for their gadget hardware teardowns, had their developer account canceled after publishing a teardown of the new Apple TV developer unit in violation of Apple's terms and conditions. As a consequence, iFixit's app, which was tied to the account, is no longer available in the App Store.

In a blog post, iFixit stated:

Not too long ago, we tore down the Apple TV and Siri Remote. The developer unit we disassembled was sent to us by Apple. Evidently, they didn't intend for us to take it apart. But we're a teardown and repair company; teardowns are in our DNA—and nothing makes us happier than figuring out what makes these gadgets tick. We weighed the risks, blithely tossed those risks over our shoulder, and tore down the Apple TV anyway.A few days later, we got an email from Apple informing us that we violated their terms and conditions—and the offending developer account had been banned. Unfortunately, iFixit's app was tied to that same account, so Apple pulled the app as well. Their justification was that we had taken "actions that may hinder the performance or intended use of the App Store, B2B Program, or the Program."

The company also reminded iOS users that they can still enjoy iFixit's mobile web site.

John Callaham

I have been writing professionally about technology and gaming news for 14 years.