App rejected due to content that resembles one or multiple third-party sports teams and/or leagues.

Question

DrClash OP

Created Jan ’22

Replies 2

Boosts 0

Views 2k

Participants 3

Dear all,

I published a new version of my football app yesterday and Apple rejected the app with the following message :

Guideline 4.1 - Design - Copycats

Your app or its metadata appears to contain misleading content.

Specifically, your app includes content that resembles one or multiple third-party sports teams and/or leagues.

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 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.

Alternatively, please remove the third-party content from your app and its metadata.

Checking similar threads on Internet, I understand that I need property rights of the football teams / leagues in order to use their names and logos. However, there are still elements that are not clear and your answer to the following questions would be beneficial for me:

I published the first version of my app 8 months ago and Apple accepted without talking about these property rights. Why is it a problem now ? This new version only fixed minor bugs.
What can I do now ? My app is mainly based on these logos / names ? It is impossible to provide a documentary evidence for all football teams.
Many apps are using the football logos / names on the Apple Store. How do they do ? I don't believe they all have the necessary property rights.

I would be very grateful if someone can help me. Thanks in advance

Boost

Answer 1

Claude31 OP

Jan ’22

I published the first version of my app 8 months ago and Apple accepted without talking about these property rights. Why is it a problem now ? This new version only fixed minor bugs.

That's probably because it was reviewed by a more exacting reviewer this time. Being accepted does not guarantee everything is correct and will not be refused next time.

What can I do now ? My app is mainly based on these logos / names ? It is impossible to provide a documentary evidence for all football teams.

That's part of the problem. If the value of your app is based on logos (which are copyrighted), hence the issue. If you Google for "can I use freely the logos of football teams ?", you will find much information about it.

Many apps are using the football logos / names on the Apple Store. How do they do ? I don't believe they all have the necessary property rights.

The fact that other apps do it is not an argument. Remember, your first version did it as well.

As for solutions, I would doubt you would ever get an agreement from the teams. Not only because of you but because that would create a precedent. Remember they make a lot of money with derived products and logo is a key element for this.

Not a legal opinion, but probably the only option you have is to find another visual element to describe each team, even though if that may be hard to find. And then explain what you did, very clearly, for reviewer.

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Answer 2

apaterno OP

Apr ’24

Ok we will contact the league and genius to see if they can share you us / you the agreement of the rights, thanks

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