Notice of Important Updates to our API Terms and PPA

[Shopify]

Shopify Partners,

We are making updates to our API License and Terms of Use and our Partner Program Agreement. This includes terms related to a new Regulatory Operating Fee and additional updates that are intended to support the growth of Shopify Partners while maintaining the security and integrity of products and services offered on our platform.

The summary below highlights important updates coming into effect on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.

• In response to Digital Service Tax legislation, beginning January 5th, 2022, a Regulatory Operating Fee will apply to Partner App and Theme sales to Merchants with a business address located in the UK, India, Italy, Spain, and Turkey. 
  
  
• We are strengthening our terms and conditions around prohibited marketing activities to include new and emerging technologies including but not limited to social platforms, SMS and email marketing.
  
  
• With a heightened focus on Merchants and their Customers' privacy and security, we are adding further clarity to the time frames during which potential breaches or compromises of Merchant Data must be reported by our partners. Reports should be made no later than 24 hours of becoming aware of any actual or suspected breach or compromise of Merchant Data by contacting Shopify Partner Support.
  
  
• Deceptive development practices are prohibited on Shopify's platform. This includes efforts to manipulate search engines and inject obfuscated code into Themes. For more information, refer to best practices for theme development and best practices for app development on Shopify.dev. 
  
  
• In the event that a Partner seeks to assign or otherwise transfer the Partner Program Agreement, or any of its rights or obligations thereunder, the Partner must obtain Shopify’s prior written consent by contacting Shopify Partner Support.

• We have updated the Customer API's to differentiate between SMS and email marketing consent to meet regulatory requirements.

Continuing to work with Shopify following January 5, 2022, will mean that you accept the updated terms.

For more information and frequently asked questions, please visit the Shopify Help Center. Shopify Partners can also contact partner support through the Partner Dashboard.