Update rejection - 4. 1 Design: Copycats

Question

Created Aug ’19

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Hello there, we've hit the wall while submitting a small update with bug fixes and balance changes for our game. A second time the review was rejected with only information being:

This app or its metadata appears to be attempting to misrepresent itself as another popular app or game already available on the App Store or a third-party platform.

Apps submitted to the App Store should be unique and should not attempt to deceive users into thinking they are downloading something they are not.

The next submission of this app may require a longer review time, and this app will not be eligible for an expedited review until this issue is resolved.

Next Steps

- Review the Copycats section of the App Store Review Guidelines.

- Ensure your app is compliant with all sections of the App Store Review Guidelines.App Store Review Guidelines and the Terms & Conditions of the Apple Developer Program.

- Once your app is fully compliant, resubmit your app for review.

Submitting apps designed to mislead or harm customers or evade the review process may result in the termination of your Apple Developer Program account. Review the Terms & Conditions of the Apple Developer Program to learn more about our policies regarding termination.

We are a small indie team of five, behind mobile strategy game: Shattered Plane. The game we created is fully original, has nothing to do with any other game or outside product. Nowhere in the metadata or game itself, we suggest it's anything more than our own product. Everything from the graphic and design to game code, sound and music were created solely by us and for the purpose of this game. What's more, the game is currently sold in the AppStore with exact same metadata and content.

We've tried to follow the instruction, read again the Guidelines and Terms & Conditions, verified all the information, confirmed in response what we've stated above and resubmitted, only to be rejected again with the exact same response.

We are aware that Shattered Plane is just modest mobile title and of course you can find some inspiration of classic PC or flash games here and there, but by no mean it's not original or a copycat. Does anyone have an idea what can be the reason for the reject? Can the reason be that the game is sold on Android as well and we need to prove we are the one selling there as well? How we can even acquire any information about the exact reason the game is rejected?

Boost

Answer 1

KMT OP

Aug ’19

Did you appeal?

If so, what did you say?

How many times?

** Note these are simply questions to learn more details about what’s transpired to this point, not suggestions on what you should do next. **

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Answer 2

chuckc192000 OP

Aug ’19

I don't think Apple cares what's going on in the Android world (well, except for maybe the grossest copyright infringement). It's possible they're referring to the PC and flash game elements you mentioned above. Or perhaps another, bigger company has developed a similar game and Apple now believes that you're infringing on THEM.

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Answer 3

PBK OP

Aug ’19

>This app or its metadata appears to be attempting to misrepresent itself as another popular app or game already available on the App Store or a third-party platform. ........taken at face value this suggests app review might believe the android version is being copied. You could appeal stating that’s your app. The title may be considered too similar to other games or your keywords may contain other games. That could generate this type of rejection.

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Answer 4

MichalOglozinski OP

Aug ’19

But what elements? How can we know what is wrong, may the name be the problem? Meaby the description is somehow too similar to the other game we have no idea that exists somewhere? Or maybe its the design of the game, that became suddenly not original enough? How can we know where is the problem?

We don't have any keywords or use anywhere in the description of the app anything external, no references to anything besides our own game. We did not even changed anything from the last version, this is just a small fix and rebalance patch.

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Answer 5

PBK OP

Aug ’19

“This is just a small fix” doesn’t get you anywhere. App Review can decide the earlier review missed something. You would know quite well if your name was a play on some other name. If not, don’t worry. If your name is not a play on some other name then appeal the rejectioN stating, again, that you own the other app. The appeal process goes to a different group.

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