Supported Locations

To allow access to the largest possible number of developers, we are opening the Java Warehouse to selected additional countries, for submission of free applications. However, access to these applications is limited to U.S. consumers only. Imposing this restriction, which we are working to lift on a country-by-country basis, lets us quickly allow more developers into the warehouse.

Applications in the Java Warehouse — free or paid in the Java Store — are subject to restrictions based on both the publisher's and the user's locations. This document lists and explains the reasons for these restrictions.

Access Requirements Summary

 
 

Note: These requirements and lists will be updated from time to time, so please check often.

Reasons for Restrictions

Although we would like to open access to the Java Store and the Java Warehouse to every country in the world, there are several reasons why we need to do so selectively. On the U.S. side, because your application is hosted on U.S. servers, the U.S. government applies export-compliance rules to these applications, no matter where you (the developer) may be located. Each country has its own set of requirements as well, which Sun is working through.

The main challenges for operating across borders follow:

• Localization: To offer a compelling experience, the Java Store and Java Warehouse may be offered in multiple languages. Regional settings for dates, currency, and numbers also will have to be taken into account. The applications submitted would also need to be filtered so only content appropriate for a given country is offered.
• Privacy Requirements: Different countries have different rules on what is considered private information and how the data should be handled. Some countries prohibit companies from sending data collected inside their borders to servers abroad. The requirements for protecting the data and informing users how the data can be used also vary across borders.
• Legal status: Terms of use and license agreements valid in one country may be void or illegal in others. Applications that are OK in one country or region may be prohibited in other countries.
• Taxes: Rules on what is taxable — both at the time of selling applications and when sending money to developers — vary across countries and sometimes even in different regions of a country. Tax collection and payment rules also differ.
• Export controls: Some countries and localities have special rules on what information and/or digital products are allowed to leave or enter their borders. There are Denied Party lists that prohibit sending information to certain companies or even certain persons.
• International Money Transfers: Sending money across borders could require filing documentation with the proper authorities and/or handling currency exchanges.

Timeframe for Paid Applications

As each country or region has to be evaluated separately, and might require changes in our terms of use, information handling, or allowable content, we cannot predict when developers in a specific country will be allowed to submit paid applications. However, we can assure you that we will allow paid applications from outside of the U.S. as soon as we are able to get approval from our legal, tax, and privacy advisors.

Basis for Country Selection

We take several factors into account when selecting from which countries developers can register in the Warehouse. Two particularly important ones are:

• The number of potential developers from a given country: This is based on the number of developers who register to be notified when the Java Warehouse is available in their country, on Java SDK downloads per country, and on the existence of appropriate Java applications.
• How easy it will be to comply with the requirements for allowing applications from developers in that country. Legal, tax, privacy, and export-compliance experts evaluate each country.

If you are interested in publishing applications and are not in a supported country, register with our list of potential developers in your country. We then will know there is demand, and we can let you know when we do support it.

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