Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) is dropping its newly instated non-disclosure agreement about iPhone applications, it wrote today on a developer Web site. Under the new rules, developers who have already released their software or applications will no longer be prohibited from talking about it. “We put the NDA in place because the iPhone OS includes many Apple inventions and innovations that we would like to protect, so that others don’t steal our work. It has happened before,” Apple wrote. “However, the NDA has created too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone’s success, so we are dropping it for released software.” Within a week or so, developers will be receiving their new agreement. What isn’t changing is that unreleased software and features will remain under NDA until they are released. No word about “rejected” software or features.

The change of mind comes after heated protests by developers who found they were no longer able to share tips and stories among themselves—and obviously the ability for developer community to exchange thoughts about the iPhone can be a good thing. The biggest example being used was when a book publisher was forced to withdraw a programmers guide scheduled for December 2008. Pragmatic Bookshelf announced it is pulling Phone SDK Development from its production schedule “because Apple’s draconian non-disclosure agreement (NDA) effectively prevents them from publishing the book,” The Register reported. The publishers of the The iPhone Developer’s Cookbook also were waiting for the NDA to be lifted before publication.