Guideline 4.1 - Design - Copycats

Question

Created May ’25

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Hello,

My game was rejected for the reasons mentioned below. However, I am unable to identify or understand the exact issue. I would like to share all the documents and information I have here, hoping that this will help identify what is wrong or what is actually correct.

Ekran görüntüsü 2025-05-16 022512.png

The story, gameplay, level design, and all the coding of my game are completely original and created by me. Additionally, any third-party assets I’ve used are fully licensed and invoiced. For example, if I’ve used a model that I didn't design myself, I purchased it and modified it to fit my original design. I have all the documentation to prove this.

The name of my game is "James War" and it is currently published on Google Play under my own name. "James" is the name of the main character in the game. Since the game is based on a psychological and philosophical novel-style concept, it represents a metaphorical “war” within James' own identity – a psychological battle, so to speak.

I submitted the same promotional materials to the App Store as I did for Google Play – including identical screenshots and descriptions. (I’m not sure if this was a mistake.) My intention was to promote "James War" equally on both platforms.

Please let me know if anyone can review my videos or content and give me clear guidance on what exactly I need to change or improve.

Note: The game logo was originally designed by me, and I enhanced it using AI tools to make it more professional. I included a note in the description that the logo was improved with the help of AI. I also mentioned that I used AI-assisted translation for the game's promotional text in different languages. Other than that, everything – including all in-game visuals – is fully original and created by me.

Thank you in advance for your interest and support.

These are the promotional images I sent to the app store. My game consists of exactly these... I sent the videos as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HmhZ-7iAeI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qstFcsK1SKw

My game is the same as in these images and the video. I don't know if it's just the logo that's the problem, but I returned my original logo to the top with the help of artificial intelligence. I'm also sending you my original logo.

My original logo. The top one was revised with the help of artificial intelligence.

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Answer 1

App Review OP

Apple

May ’25

Thank you for your post. We recommend you visit Preventing Copycat and Impersonation Rejections to learn best practices that will help you submit apps that follow App Review Guideline 4.1.

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Answer 2

sahildali OP

May ’25

Accepted Answer

Hello. I had forgotten to update here earlier. For my app, I responded in detail to the section where the issue was specified, explaining how and in what way my game was developed. I also provided video evidence via my Google Play Console account proving that the game belongs to me. As a result, my game was approved.

I’m not entirely sure why it was rejected at first, but I submitted every document I could think of in my responses. And thankfully, it was accepted.

Additionally, as I mentioned to the App Developer Support team, let me state it here as well: During the development process, I did not copy or reference any existing game. This game is entirely based on an idea and a story that I imagined myself, and I designed everything accordingly.

I had some concerns that the issue might have been due to the logo or that my game might have mistakenly appeared as a copy of my own project on the Google Play Console.

For now, everything seems fine since my game has been accepted.

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