We recently attempted to publish a movie companion app for the Korean tv series - Squid Game on Netflix.
The idea is that when users watch the korean tv series, the app will listen to the audio, understand the exact minutes the user is watching, and then display relevant information.
The relevant information is basically, the latest survivor count and the latest cash prize, based on the progress of the tv show. This is displayed using fonts and colors that looks similar to the "Scoreboard" in the Netflix tv series.
To avoid giving false impression that this app is official app from Netflix, there is no usage of any squidgame logo, netflix logo. Also no mention of "Netflix" or the "Squid Game" in the app description at all.
Unfortunately, it is still rejected, with the following reasons:
Guideline 4.1 - Design - Copycats
Your metadata appears to contain third party content. Specifically, your app copycat the Squid game.
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 and the Terms & Conditions of the Apple Developer Program.
- Provide rights to any protected or trademarked content in App Store Connect.
- 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.
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 or fraudulent documentation can result in the termination of your Apple Developer Program account and the removal of your apps from the App Store. Once Legal has reviewed your documentation and confirms its validity, we will proceed with the review of your app.
This is our app store descriptions, the "metada":
State-of-the-art companion app to watch the most-watched South Korean survival drama television series.
See the number of players and cash prizes synchronise with the progress of the tv series magically. All 9 episodes supported. Watch in Korean audio.
The only place I mentioned "Squid game", is in the keywords field which I thought is not visible to users
squid game,dalgona candy,survival game,red light green light
I thought the WWDC2021 specifically encouraged developer to build awesome movie companion app.
Do we have to be the copyright owners of the movie to build a movie companion app?
I am obviously not from Netflix or the Squid Game. I genuinely thought a "movie companion" app should not infringe any rights of the movie since it does not actually contain the movie itself. Only the design, colors, font is similar to the ones used in the movie.
Changing the design also lost the meaning of the app because it is supposed to be a digital replica of the "Scoreboard" in the tv series.
How should I resubmit to get this approved?