“copycat”

Hello everybody, I was wondering how is that possible that the app Weather Pro from Luni (https://apps.apple.com/bb/app/weather-by-luni/id1137406490) can be the exact same app than the Weather app from Apple ? It's the same design, with some added features. Maybe Apple copied Luni, or the opposite, but according to 4.1 of Apple guidelines, I thought this would fall into copycat ? Thank you for any possible explanation.

Hello, In my application I am using OpenAI's API to fetch responses inside my application. When I submit apple review they only give me this information for what is wrong with the application. Your metadata appears to contain third party content. Specifically, the app leverages OpenAI. The next submission of this app may require a longer review time. So, I would assume from this response I would not need to submit anything else. I have resubmitted and they gave me the same response. I have asked them what else I would need to add to the application, but they respond with: We are not able to provide feedback on app concepts or features, but we recommend evaluating your app against the App Store Review Guidelines, as well as the iOS Developer Program License Agreement (PLA), and the Human Interface Guidelines. I am going to try asking for more guidance for what extra I need to submit. But has anyone received issues with using API's? and how did you resolve this issue in App Store Review? Thanks in advance, Chri

If you are a company with multiple brands that offer the same app product, can they all have similar UI? so the colours and font styles may differ but the layout and content are the same. for example, if you are a restaurant company and you own multiple different brands of pizza restaurants, and they all offer the same app for pizza delivery, can they all just have same UI? The section on copycats is not clear on this https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#copycats

Every time Apple reviews it, they don't properly tell me what's wrong with my app, and they tell me to ask if I have any questions, but when I ask, they don't answer. For example, something like this. Apple rejected it as a copycat with screenshots. So, if I mark the part corresponding to the screenshot with a red square and there is no problem in all parts, if you ask me where is the problem. The return reply is as follows. Hello, The issues we previously identified still need your attention. If you have any questions, we are here to help. Reply to this message in App Store Connect and let us know. Guideline 4.1 - Design - Copycats Your app or its metadata appears to contain misleading content. Specifically, your app still includes content that resembles VPET. Next Steps You may attach documentary evidence in the App Review Information section in App Store Connect. In accordance with section 3.2(f) of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, you acknowledge that submitting falsified o

My app got rejected earlier this year for 4.1 Design Copycat terms. In fact, it was too similar to another big title. Although I hadn't copied completely there were elements that I replicated way too similar to the original. It was an old Unity course project that I thought it would be great to have on app store as a portfolio. I take the blame here and I was too reckless on the design. However, after that I totally redesigned the gameplay. All the assets are different, the way to control is different. If you look at both games you'll just see it's a total different project. The only thing I inherited is bundle id, the achievements and rankings. This week I resubmitted the app, with a different name, different screenshot and icons and a new Build. However, the app got rejected again as if the new build doesn't even exits. Question: Should I remove this app from App Store Connect and create a new from scratch or should I insist on having a that one approved ?

I'm hoping fellow developers will have advice for me as Apple refuses to even acknowledge this issue. My app is Camera Lucida and is a highly rated app that has been continually improved upon since 2010. Another developer fairly recently created an app that is similar in nature, but very, very different and very poorly reviewed. The developer named the app, Camera Lucida ・. The extra dot at the end of the name does not show up on the iOS springboard, settings page and other locations. As a result, I continually am getting support emails from people purchasing this copycat app. This is because my support web page is easily found on the web. This app is very negatively impacting my brand. Apple refuses to do anything about it - even refusing to acknowledge what I'm typing in my support emails. I've even asked them about getting Trademarks, etc. - but because the name wouldn't be exactly duplicated, Apple won't even say if that would work. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm looking for a little help understanding what Apple considers a copycat. I've been trying to get my app on the store for over a week but I fear that no matter what I do it will continue to be rejected pursuant to Guideline 4.1. I've at least been able to extract from them that the issue lies in the design of the UI, not the metadata. This app and its metadata appears to be misrepresenting itself as another popular app or game already available on the App Store, from a developer's website or distribution source, or from a third-party platform. Specifically, the app resembles the popular game Wordle. We understand that you have removed metadata related to Wordle. However, the UI still resembles the game very closely. Unfortunately this only confuses me more as there are several Apps on the App store with similar UIs. Here's a screenshot of my app. And here's a screenshot of the App store when I search for wordle. What's the Word? Logic Game is the one that really gets me as it's literally a Wordle c

Hello! I have an app on the Google Play Store called Concept.TF, and I decided to add it to the Apple App Store as well, but it got rejected. The purpose of the app is to create weapon ideas for a game called Team Fortress 2 and share them with your friends, so it is supposed to include Team Fortress 2 content. There are two things that I don't understand: Why was I able to submit the app on the Google Play Store? I understand that there are different rules for different platforms, but being a Copycat seems like a rather broad concept that both platforms would have. And how would I be eligible to use the Team Fortress 2 content on the App Store? Do I need to contact the developers of the game to get a license, etc. I will not link Concept.TF because I am not trying to promote the app, but if you go to the Google Play Store and search for it by name, it will be the first result.

Hi! I'm one of the developers of an open source browser extension startpage named Bonjourr that takes heavy inspiration from iOS' design language. We've been working on it for almost three years and our users love it, but have been since the beginning asking for a Safari version (it's only available for Chrome, Firefox and Edge). That would totally make sense since our target audience is Apple users, but we haven't done it yet. Apple developers accounts are expensive and it wouldn't make financial sense for us. Our users have been very kindly making donations for the last few years, and we're finally at a point where we can afford the Apple developer account (for a year anyway). The problem is that we're nervous about publishing it since our design looks a lot like Apple's (which is the whole point), and we aren't sure if they're gonna like it. We're aware of the 4.1 Copycat part of the App Store guidelines and that will probably be the main problem. However, we feel like our extension is original, f

5.2.1 Generally: Don’t use protected third-party material such as trademarks, copyrighted works, or patented ideas in your app without permission, and don’t include misleading, false, or copycat representations, names, or metadata in your app bundle or developer name. Apps should be submitted by the person or legal entity that owns or has licensed the intellectual property and other relevant rights. reading or legal entity that owns or has licensed the intellectual property and other relevant rights. it seems that there is a possibility of having the right to publish the app even if you are not the owner of the brand but then when the app review blocks it you do not understand how to go forward anyway. Do you have any advice?