" But I like Apple's walled garden because they verify and quality check everything on there "
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Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
211–220 of 335 posts
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#212Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, they’re benefitting from the fraud with their 30% cut. So yeah.
Apple doesn’t benefit from scam apps, the 30% doesn’t remotely make up for the brand damage. And in this case it’s unlikely the scammers are making more than a few hundred a month.
That's not how the law works.
Generally in the US it's illegal to engage in virtually any financial transaction if you know that funds were the proceeds of criminal activity.
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#213Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s not the reviewers job to decide if you created a “good” keyboard, just that your app generally does what it says it does. Doing specific feature testing would not be trivial. Your description may say you have the worlds only AI keyboard driven by machine learning. No way the reviewers will be able to test that, so they will accept it at face value. A few years ago Apple substantially decreased the App Review tim…
I don't think it's necessary to do specific feature testing or verify marketing claims to solve this particular issue. For example, whether or not the app is lying in its description about using AI techniques is irrelevant. Even if it were lying about using AI techniques, it still might be a useful and functional keyboard app. And even if it really did use AI techniques, it still might be a useless impractical app. >…
Apple wants developers to deliver a great experience. It’s not a review requirement.
The far larger amount of scams and malware on Google Play vs the App Store clearly establishes its value proposition.
Even this garden variety scam isn’t likely to bet its makers more than a few hundred bucks before their account is banned.
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#214Earlier quoted context omitted.
>about 2000€ a month, enough to pay for a students living expenses Just out of pure curiosity, where did you live/study that 2000 Euros are student living expenses? In my neck of the woods in central-western Europe (Austria), 1000 Euros per month is already really good money for most students and 2000 is what you make as a junior full time employee in a good tech company.
Try Amsterdam, for example. €1000 is your rent.
The usual course of action is flat sharing. Rent is then a bit more reasonable. In London you could find rooms from a few hundred quid pcm, then depending on location the sky is the limit. That was the most expensive city in Europe, pre-Brexit.
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#215Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple doesn’t benefit from scam apps, the 30% doesn’t remotely make up for the brand damage. And in this case it’s unlikely the scammers are making more than a few hundred a month.
That's not how the law works. Generally in the US it's illegal to engage in virtually any financial transaction if you know that funds were the proceeds of criminal activity.
Ok lawyer. That is immaterial and off topic.
Apple doesn’t know these are scam apps until reported, and after Apple can verify the allegations. And then Apple typically refunds all customers.
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#216Earlier quoted context omitted.
I guarantee Apple automatically refunds users when they ban a scam app. Any iOS user can get a refund from the App Store, they just have to ask, and the process is pretty much automated. Unfortunately few know this. I had a template email for unhappy customers that would walk them through it.
What if Apple has already paid the developer ? The money is in their bank account. Then Apple is at a loss.
I don’t know the specifics of Appkes refund policies, specifically how far back they go in cases like this. But I can say Apple isn’t worried about taking a loss to ensure their customers get treated fairly.
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#217Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe an "app store developers union" wouldn't be such a terrible idea
Yeah I'm sure Apple would love this idea and wouldn't try to penalize union developers in the least...
It would depend what they get out of it. It wouldn't have to be called a union. A certificate, code of conduct kind of thing would already be interesting.
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#218FYI, in situations like this the best way is to: 1. Register your videos and images with the USCO. It'll cost 2. You can now file DMCA takedowns. Send one to Apple with the USCO registration ID and a copy of the image and a link to the app in question. 3. Apple will either immediately remove that fake app, or be liable for up to $350k in punitive damages for wilful infringement and lose all DMCA protection. 4. If App…
> If Apple didn't react a week later, approach a lawyer. They'll likely be willing to work purely for 50% commission, because it'll be a slam dunk in court.
First of all nothing is a slam dunk in court.
Second even if you win you still have to collect and that assumes no delays and no appeals and no feet dragging.
Third it's not like you file and the court says 'oh we can fit you in next Tuesday' (sorry for the tone of that btw but I am trying to make a point).
Fourth, go try and actually find a lawyer that is willing to take such a small case. (ie 'up to $350k' is exactly that. Any opponent would settle for vastly less money. If not they just drag things on.).
> Of course, one would hope that Apple will do the right thing, but it's also reasonably easy to force their hand.
Apple also has a motivation to not create a precedent by settling a case that might just insure future cases against them.
Not saying impossible. But all of this assumes even there is a case and not some legal carve out for Apple (or whoever you are suing) or leg to stand on.
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#219It's funny that these scam apps and fake reviews can exist in the app store en masse, while everyone on forums like this one will praise Apple for every heavy-handed decision against legitimate apps (which coincidentally were all in Apple's own interests) because hey the walled garden keeps us safe.
App Review is hard. Apple does a better job at it than Google, so imagine what is happening on the play store.
from a user experience point of view it doesnt really matter how much of a distribution platform is compromised, if you reach a tipping point where it become useless.
The only real way to use apps stores these days is to have prior knowledge something is legit
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#220Earlier quoted context omitted.
> You post screenshots of your app in progress for feedback. Scammer dupes those, rushes app into store, and when you finally launch, they "were there first" and requests your deletion on those grounds. I seriously doubt this has ever happened in the history of the App Store. Scammers are "lazy". The look for the easy targets. Copying an existing app is easier and more lucrative than trying to write a new app based j…
> I seriously doubt this has ever happened in the history of the App Store. Don't know about the App Store, but people have copied in-progress websites and did copy-cat products (sometimes complete with the original artwork/styles).
In general, scammers want to know that something is popular, before they decide to clone it?
I wonder if they had bought website visit statistics via e.g. Alexa? And in the app store, they'll see how many downloads? ratings? already existing apps have, and can decide, based on that?
Meaning, "who was first" can work fine, most of the time?
> "theirs could be available in another store, and you copied theirs from there"
And one would need to check different app stores, e.g. who was first in any of Google Play and Apple's App Store?