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iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

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Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#21

Post by timdorr »

Their other apps: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/super-racing-real-games/id...

From the looks of it, they're a total scam developer. How does this stuff get into the store? At least two of their apps use the logos of other apps with some quick filtering to change the colors.

I guess Apple isn't doing much more than a cursory check against trademarks when approving apps. That seems really dangerous. Copyright infringement procedures are well defined by the DMCA. Trademark doesn't have an equivalent law.

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#23

Post by n9com »

timdorr wrote: post #21

Their other apps: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/super-racing-real-games/id... From the looks of it, they're a total scam developer. How does this stuff get into the store? At least two of their apps use the logos of other apps with some quick filtering to change the colors. I guess Apple isn't doing much more than a cursory check against trademarks when approving apps. That seems really dangerous. Copyright infri…

oh they do check - this is either a total oversight or an inside connection that the developer has.

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#24

Post by pooriaazimi »

I love these guys. They have tons of other shitty/scammy apps:

- Fruit Defense (ripoff of Fruit Ninja): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fruit-defense/id527599882?mt=...

- File Manager (a game!): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/file-manager/id529097807?mt=8

- Orient Fight (icon is a ripoff of Temple Run's): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oriental-fight/id527894964?mt...

- F1 Birdie Driver (bird looks like an angry bird): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/f1-birdie-driver/id529098374?...

- Slider Customizer (obviously does nothing): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/slider-customizator/id5316330...

- Videogram Pro (ripoff of Instagram, with almost the same icon): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/videogram-pro/id529801444?mt=...

- Tapped (ripoff of Bejeweled): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tapped-./id527589234?mt=8

- Real Robot Attack (I know it's a ripoff of some famous game, but I don't remember its name): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/real-robot-attack/id529803195...

- Two other shitty apps: Beauty Meter (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/beauty-meter!/id527010584?mt=...) and Oldity Meter (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oldity-meter/id529098528?mt=8)

---

This is why I sometimes get mad at Apple. I do believe they have the right to curate their store, but I think they should do it more vigorously and reject every single shitty app, and ban those developers. App Store is getting filled with these crap...

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#25

Post by saurik »

Apple, just a few days ago, also approved (and pulled once there was a lot of online press being caused by it) a fake Cydia. (Cydia is the alternative to the app store that distributes substrate extensions for jailbroken devices.) A bunch of people bought it and then left reviews saying that they had been ripped off.

http://cache.saurik.com/tinyimg/cydiascam.png

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#26

Post by pooriaazimi »

akmiller wrote: post #20
illumin8 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are developers able to change the name of their app after it is approved and published in the app store? Because, if so, there might be a reasonable explanation for this mistake: 1. Developer submits app named "Tips for Microsoft Word". 2. App is approved. 3. Developer changes app name to "Microsoft Word 2012". 4. Profit?

No, you cannot change the App name once the application is in the app store. On top of that, all app names must be unique.

Yes you can.

Just a few days ago, 'The EagleBook' changed its name to 'The CIA World Factbook', for example: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eaglebook-cia-world-factbook/...

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#27

Post by berkut »

It's getting ridiculous - I'd heard of this happening a lot, and then last week one of my GPL'd Mac apps that's hosted on GitHub appeared on the Mac Store, being sold for €23.99 by some person (obviously Chinese with a really dodgy website). Surely the dodgy website should ring some alarm bells at Apple?

Despite going through the process on the store feedback to notify Apple of counterfeit apps, I've had no response...

I don't really care that much that someone's profiting off my work (they didn't even bother to do their own screenshots), I'm more concerned that some people are going to pay that money for that clone of my app, when it's free (although not in the App Store), and the other developer is very unlikely to help them if there are any problems.

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#28

Post by ceejayoz »

pooriaazimi wrote: post #26
akmiller wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, you cannot change the App name once the application is in the app store. On top of that, all app names must be unique.

Yes you can. Just a few days ago, 'The EagleBook' changed its name to 'The CIA World Factbook', for example: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eaglebook-cia-world-factbook/...

I'd imagine Apple has to review and approve the change, though.

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#29

Post by ckrailo »

saurik wrote: post #25

Apple, just a few days ago, also approved (and pulled once there was a lot of online press being caused by it) a fake Cydia. (Cydia is the alternative to the app store that distributes substrate extensions for jailbroken devices.) A bunch of people bought it and then left reviews saying that they had been ripped off. http://cache.saurik.com/tinyimg/cydiascam.png

You'd think they would know about your app by now and not even let it get approved. ;)

(Amazing work btw, you rock.)

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#30

Post by smackfu »

timdorr wrote: post #21

Their other apps: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/super-racing-real-games/id... From the looks of it, they're a total scam developer. How does this stuff get into the store? At least two of their apps use the logos of other apps with some quick filtering to change the colors. I guess Apple isn't doing much more than a cursory check against trademarks when approving apps. That seems really dangerous. Copyright infri…

I think Apple's position is "it's not our job to police your trademarks, since you don't tell us when you license them to developers".
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