App Rejected 5. 2.2 Legal: Intellectual Property - Third Party Sites/Services

My app was recently rejected for TestFlight due to the following:


"Your app includes features for streaming TV channels, the content of which may be copyrighted."


I don't understand as my app does not stream any kind of media nor has any intent of doing such.


The rest of the message is the standard "Next Step" for Guideline 5.2.2.


I understand getting permission from a "client" to use their content.


The issue is the content I use is from my own database so I am not sure what client I contact to get this "authorization".


Any ideas of how I can proceed to a successful review for TestFlight?


Thanks in advance!

You wrote:

> The issue is the content I use is from my own database.


The issue is not "from" where the content is sourced, it is who "created" the content and therefore owns the copright. If it is true that you own the copyright to the content then appeal stating:


"My app does not stream any TV channels nor does it allow users to stream TV channels. I created and own the copyright of all material that my app streams or otherwise displays."

Did you appeal?


If so, what did you say?


How many times?


How many rejections?


What did each rejection say?


Were you told to make changes to meta data and not re-submit another build?


Were you told to resubmit?


>Any ideas of how I can proceed to a successful review for TestFlight?


Is it crucial that you involve external testers at this stage? Note that using only internal testers does not require a review, so...

Thanks for the suggestion! I am resubmitting and will use your suggestion if it is rejected again. Fingers crossed! Thanks!

If I may respond to your post below....


1) If you resubmit then you cancel the appeal process. So you have to make a decision, await a response to the appeal or resubmit. It's a tough decision. Sometimes the appeal can get lost in the system and resubmission can take many days and fail to address an incorrectly perceived feature of the app.

2) Yes, confirming KMT below, it may be just a simple mistake - that App Review thought you were enabling streaming a TV Channel. App Review may simply realize this and accept your appeal as it is.

3) But......Your appeal (as you quoted below) did not address, perhaps, the key issue - who owns the copyright on the material your app does, or can, display. Clearly App Review is wrong about the streaming. They seem to misunderstand what your app does. Your appeal places them on the defensive, perhaps not from where you want them to respond. The rejection itself involved copyrights as a result of some feature App Review sees in your app. Asking App Review to specify that feature will not address the core concern - copyright. I'd redo the appeal stating simply...."Thanks for reviewing the app. It does not stream any material. I created and therefore own the copyright in the material the app presents - and I am submitting this response as docuentary evidence of such ownership. I am answering this under the provisions of section 3.2(f)."


4) If however, you do not own the copyright in the material the app displays, or that the user is able to access material through the app that would violate a copyright (e.g. downloading music files from other users), then App Review's concern needs to be addressed. Albeit, no media streaming, but there is still a copyright infringement issue. App Review may have simply misstated the source of their concern.

Thank you for a thorough explanation of many scenarios. I cancelled my submission for review and going to go with scenario 3. What's weird is I have submitted this app numerous times already with no issues. So not exactly sure why this time there were issues. Also the screenshot they gave me was a list of labels, not even buttons to activate anything, lol. Hopefully this is all just a misunderstanding. Will you two posted and thanks again for the help and guidance!

App Rejected 5. 2.2 Legal: Intellectual Property - Third Party Sites/Services
 
 
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