Hi Apple,
Currently I am having an issue with claiming an app name in the appstore. The name I am trying to claim is already in use by some other app which is inactive since 2015 already. The app does not conform to apple's latest guidelines and even crashes a few times by using the app.
Is there any program in particular about requesting a removal for these kind of apps? Or are you guys able to request a removal by the owner hisself?
I am looking forward for your answer.
Best Regards,
Kevin.
Apple isn't here, mostly. devForums are mainly dev-to-dev.
>in use by some other app which is inactive since 2015 already.
Apple has purged tons of older apps from the store over the last year or so, but as you found, that doesn't mean their names have been de-coupled from the associated accounts.
Unless you can perhaps contact the author and come to a deal, or frame a request to Apple in the form of a trademark dispute, my opinion is you won't get very far. Try the 'Contact Us' tree via iTunes Connect.
Good luck.
If the app is still in the App store, that means the owner of the app is still paying the annual developer enrollment fee, which means they would not like their app to be removed due to some other developer wanting to steal the name. Hopefully, any such requests will be rejected. Apple leaves lots of older apps that were approved long ago, and that thus do not conform to current guidelines, in the App store. There are a vast number of apps that are many years old (5+?) still available. Apple does seem to be responsive to information about apps that appear to include malware, or that violate registered company trademarks.
