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Reply to App Rejected – Guideline 4.1 (Copycat / Impersonation) – Need Advice

Thank you for your post. There are several factors that may contribute to an app not following App Review Guideline 4.1. Visit Preventing Copycat and Impersonation Rejections to learn best practices that will help you submit original apps that follow this guideline. If you have questions about App Review's review of your app, we recommend requesting an appointment with App Review during the bi-weekly Meet with Apple event. Sign in with your Developer ID and select App Review Appointment. A member of the App Review team will help you with your questions regarding the review process and the App Review Guidelines. Appointments are subject to availability during your local business hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review

Sep ’25

Guideline 4.1 - Design - Copycats (Please demonstrate your relationship with any third-party brand owners represented in your app.)

Hi devs,we've got an app rejection and the next step is:Please demonstrate your relationship with any third-party brand owners represented in your app.I tried to google and also searched this forum but couldn't find a clear answer/instruction. Therefore I seek your help. Of course I wrote Apple in the resolution center but I didn't get a message back until now, so I'm trying to reach out to the community.Project setup:We: Developer of the app with an App Store account where the app should be published.Agency: Our client, an agency without AS account.Client: Big company without AS account.The app contains the name and logo of the client. This seems to be a problem for Apple now and therefore the rejection. Here's the complete message in the resolution center:Guideline 4.1 - Design - CopycatsYour app or its metadata appears to contain misleading content. Specifically, your app includes content that resembles [CLIENT] without the necessary authorization.Please see attached screenshots for details.Next StepsPleas

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review App Review

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Aug ’17

Reply to Similar app name with non-competitor, will review be successful?

Even if we knew what X is supposed to indicate, no one here can predict how App Review will react.My opinion is that 'similar' is a risk.See Section 4, Design,in the ASRGs:4.1 Copycats Come up with your own ideas. We know you have them, so make yours come to life. Don’t simply copy the latest popular app on the App Store, or make some minor changes to another app’s name or UI and pass it off as your own. In addition to risking an intellectual property infringement claim, it makes the App Store harder to navigate and just isn’t fair to your fellow developers.But if you haven't staged your app yet, for all you know, X is already taken...just because you don't see it in the store, doesn't mean it's up for grabs.

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review

Nov ’17

Reply to Issue with 2.1 Intellectual Property section on only one app

I don'tb think this has anything to do with company name. I published several apps which names have not the slightest resemblance with the company name.So, you should find what else is infringing or riking to infringe 2.1.5.2.1 states: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 and is responsible for offering any services provided by the app.You said that One of them happens to be similar to UberAre you sure not to infringe any patented idea here ?

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review

Nov ’19

Reply to App rejected because The company names associated with your app do not reflect a recognized institution

Here is 5.2.1:5.2.1 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 and is responsible for offering any services provided by the app.Who owns the data you are using for the coronavirus? If it is not copyright protected, or if it is explicitly available for your use, then appeal to App Review stating why you have the right to use the data.(I do not think the problem is that last is responsible for offering any services provided by the app.)

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review

Feb ’20

Reply to Apple Weather app vs Weather Pro from Luni - copycat ?

I was hoping for a more reasonable answer, something constructive. Not unverified assumptions. It appear that Apple Weather app does have a design patent for the search city menu. As this one was registered late 2021, I am trying to understand why Apple would fill such a design patent when they have an anti-copycat guideline. Aren’t apps design protected by copyright or trade dress ? So, in the hope of a possible answer, I would ask it differently. Can someone release a weather app with the same design as the Apple Weather app ? As a picture says much more, I add a screen of the 2 apps I mention in my first post. Try to guess which one is Apple one. I’ll end by mentioning that there are plenty of weather apps in the App Store. All of them have different designs. So why one would simply copy the look and feel of another app ? Unless Apple and Luni have an agreement, I do not understand.

App Store Distribution & Marketing General

Jan ’23

Reply to Can I make apps that iOS has that option already?

If you mean an app that is similar to an app Apple already offers, such as a reminder app, then sure. But please keep in mind that you cannot simply copy Apple's Reminders (or any of their apps) or other apps on the App Store, and tweak it a bit, then publish that. Per the App Store Submission Guideline: 4.1 Copycats Come up with your own ideas. We know you have them, so make yours come to life. Don’t simply copy the latest popular app on the App Store, or make some minor changes to another app’s name or UI and pass it off as your own. In addition to risking an intellectual property infringement claim, it makes the App Store harder to navigate and just isn’t fair to your fellow developers. So simply put, do not copy an existing app with minimal changes, have one or two exclusive features that really make it appealing to users of other reminder apps, for example. Hope this helps. Best of luck!

Community Swift Student Challenge

Mar ’23

2.1 我们无法找到 App Tracking Transparency 权限请求 & 4.1 Design Copycat Rejection

我的游戏,自己开发完成,且已经在谷歌上线2年多.上次更新完初级包,这次更新就一直被拒绝 2.1 我们无法找到 App Tracking Transparency 权限请求 4.1模仿设计给拒绝. 我已经提交了我的谷歌平台的地址,同时也在商品详情中声明了关于IOSApp的信息. 同时2.1 关于这个的请求,我也提交操作说明了.不知道你们如果判断,请帮助我完成提交更新

App Store Distribution & Marketing General Custom Apps AdAttributionKit

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Feb ’25

Reply to 4.3 Design Guidelines - Apple please reconsider how this is enforced.

Completely agree with you. We have an online ordering system for restaurants. We won 2 innovation startup awards. We have 100% native Obj-C and Java code. We use each OSs native components to make the apps look and feel native for each device. We customize ieach app for each restaurant to have it's own feeling and connect it to several 3rd party systems they are using like fleet management systems, POS etc. and we are now releasing apps only for google play. Our newest clients have a crippled product, even though we try to make bigger and bigger changes to each app in order to make it even more clear that they are not copycats, but apps that only share a minimum, logical amount of UX. Since we were always trying to be in par with HIGs and ASRGs we perfected our apps to have the best flow and usability for our users and we try to keep that in all our apps but Apple has different opinion on that, so it rejects every change we make. Good job Apple, thank you.

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review

Oct ’17

Reply to “Backrooms: Escape” Removed for Alleged Copycat Months After Release (Guideline 4.1) – Advice Needed

Hello everyone, The original post here helped us understand Apple’s position on the Guideline 4.1 (Copycats) violation. It was explained that Apple sees similarities between our app and the Steam project called “Backrooms: Escape Together.” This was extremely surprising to us, as they are fundamentally different games. Here are the main points for comparison: Game Genre & Mechanics Backrooms: Escape Together is a cooperative survival-horror with AI-driven enemies, puzzles, and stealth elements. Our project is a single-player parkour runner focused on fast-paced obstacle avoidance and high-speed gameplay, without puzzle-solving or AI-controlled monsters. Visual Style & Atmosphere Backrooms: Escape Together employs a realistic, horror-centric aesthetic. Our project features a stylized, action-oriented look, aimed at quick and dynamic play sessions. Platforms & Audience Backrooms: Escape Together is oriented toward PC gamers who enjoy cooperative horror experiences. Our project targets mobil

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review

Feb ’25

Review Process for Search Ads

Hi,Will sponsored apps be more strictly reviewed ?My biggest worry is that copycat or low-quality apps might appear as the first search result.

App & System Services General Apple Search Ads

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2.5k

Jun ’16

Does the Apple App Store Review Guildelines permit one company to produce multiples apps with similar UI

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

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review App Review

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Jan ’23

Reply to Unfair Rejection – Minglr App Constantly Denied Without Clear Justification (Escalation Request)

I completely understand your frustration—our app, Minglr, has also been facing unjustified rejections despite being previously approved multiple times. It’s incredibly discouraging to see copycat apps moving forward while original apps like ours are being blocked. Here’s what we’ve tried so far: ✔ Filed a formal appeal – We made sure to clearly present our case and request escalation to a senior reviewer. ✔ Contacted Apple Developer Support directly – You can try calling them at Apple Developer Support and asking for an escalation to a higher-level reviewer. ✔ Used Twitter/X (@AppleSupport) – Sometimes, posting publicly can attract more attention. ✔ Requested a call with the App Review Team – They finally agreed to discuss our case over the phone. Maybe you could push for the same? Regarding Legal Action: Apple’s review process is notoriously opaque, and legal action is rarely successful unless it involves major financial damages or antitrust concerns. However, some developers have managed to escalat

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review

Feb ’25

Reply to problema publicando mi primera app

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. ¿Es el único comentario que hacen los revisores de la Appstore? ¿No dice nada sobre la aplicación, qué hace? Las directrices de la Appstore no son tan largas de leer. Y podrías centrarte en unas pocas: 4.1 Copias: ¿es tu aplicación similar a una ya existente? 4.2 funcionalidad mínima: ¿hace tu aplicación un buen uso de las capacidades de iOS? 4.3 Spam: ¿responde a una necesidad ya cubierta por muchas aplicaciones? 5.6.4 Calidad de la aplicación En tu próximo envío a Appstore, explica al revisor en los comentarios lo que has hecho para solucionar los problemas planteados en las revisiones anteriores. Eso suele ayudar. Is it the only comment made by Appstore reviewers ? You do not tell anything about the app, what it is doing ? Appstore guidelines are not that long to read.

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Store Connect

Sep ’22

Why is Apple rejecting my app?

Hi developer's community. So i got my app on playstore already on trying to come on Appstore and it got flagged for copycat / Design Voilation. I reached out to the review team and i got this screenshot added below , any help ? We have our app running on playstore

Community Apple Developers

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172

Aug ’25

copycat

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