Apple has updated its iPhone Developer Program License Agreement to block programmers from jailbreaking apps, assisting in jailbreaking or distributing an app via channels other than the App Store.
'You will not, through use of the Apple Software, services or otherwise, create any Application or other program that would disable, hack or otherwise interfere with the Security Solution, or any security, digital signing, digital rights management, verification or authentication mechanisms implemented in or by the iPhone operating system software, iPod touch operating system software, this Apple Software, any services or other Apple software or technology, or enable others to do so,' reads the revised license."
'Applications developed using the Apple Software may only be distributed if selected by Apple (in its sole discretion) for distribution via the App Store or for limited distribution on Registered Devices (ad hoc distribution) as contemplated in this Agreement,' it continues.
As Ars Technica notes, jailbreaking allows access to apps that Apple otherwise rejects and enables unlocking the phone from approved carriers. It also offers users and developers access to the iPhone OS's UNIX underpinnings.
The new clauses prohibit developers from embracing alternative iPhone application channels like the Cydia Store, which allows developers to distribute apps to users of jailbroken iPhones and iPod touch devices.