The developer of CoverSutra, an iTunes controller, has been forced to defend herself against accusations of “greed” and deceit, after she broke a promise to provide users with free upgrades.
Sophia Teutschler, founder of Sophiestication Software, announced last week that she was migrating all her Mac apps to the new App Store; at the same time she released CoverSutra 2.5, an update boasting several new features.
“As of today, CoverSutra is distributed exclusively through the new Mac App Store,” she wrote, adding that the App Store structure means, “A migration from the previous ‘standalone’ version is sadly not possible.”
But it was the next sentence that so raised the ire of existing users.
“However, I lowered the price to just $4.99, so there’s no reason not to pick your copy for new features and a serial number free world!”
Dan Palmer was the first to remind Teutschler of a promise not to charge for updates, citing the email he received when he bought the application.
“‘Thanks for registering – CoverSutra has been registered and you have free upgrades until version 3’.”
Other commentators range from the disappointed — “Hope you enjoy making money that way, thanks for all the fish,” wrote Frank, to unquotable vitriol.
Teutschler clearly wishes that she had simply released the update as version 3 — after all version numbers have rather lost their meaning in recent years — but says her intention was never to cash in.
“If I thought of that license text I would have simply declared this new version 3.0. Calling me a liar is simply wrong and way over the top,” she wrote in a second blog post.
“This is the first paid upgrade ever in the four years that CoverSutra exists. My intent is not to make some quick dollars, it‘s to sustain the development costs of an app I love and use daily.”
The decision to migrate her sales channel to the App Store simply makes sense for a small developer, and will benefit users, she says.
“Selling an app like CoverSutra outside the store is very hard due to the lack of overall traffic. That’s why Mac application prices where usually much higher compared to iPad and iPhone apps.”
She adds”: “Sophiestication Software is not about making money, it‘s about making great apps. Or to be more precise: Make money to keep making apps.”
The subsequent comments are, on the whole, supportive, but not everyone was placated.
“So you just ’forgot’ what you promised to your customers? Oh poor girl,” wrote Peter, although he admits to never having bought the software.
Paul says that Teutschler’s apology is insufficient. “All I can say is that stand behind what you’ve promised and then you have a chance of regaining the trust. IMHO, just saying you were mistaken but you still aren’t willing to do anything about it just makes it worse.”
