Apple Hit With Lawsuit From App Store Developer Over Copycat Apps

[Suckfest 9001]

So it gets reviewed differently? The number of downloads the app has had shouldn't make any difference to the way the rules are applied.

Apple have publically claimed that the App Store is a level playing field

Phil Schiller:

Apple has also claimed that they don’t believe in large phones and claimed they’ll release AirPower. Their stance on stuff can change. I’d rather they screened the store with “ROI” in mind because any other way of doing it is stupid.

It’s not about treating the apps differently, it’s allocating resources towards updates that will impact far more users. This watch app falls on the very bottom end of that priority list.

In other words, if your job was to put buckets under a ceiling leak but there are 100 leaks and you only got 50 buckets, you’d 100% go after the biggest leaks first wouldn’t you? Unless you mean to tell me Apple should hire millions of people to watch every single app on the store???

 

[Rob_2811]

Apple has also claimed that they don’t believe in large phones and claimed they’ll release AirPower. Their stance on stuff can change. I’d rather they screened the store with “ROI” in mind because any other way of doing it is stupid. They absolutely shouldn’t treat this joke of a watch app just as seriously as something as frequently downloaded as Spotify.

The interview isn't even 12 months old!

They are entitled to scrutinise one app more than another but it is dishonest of them to claim that they don't. Regulators also need to be sure that Apple are not using App Review to hinder fair competition.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

The interview isn't even 12 months old!

They are entitled to scrutinise one app more than another but it is dishonest of them to claim that they don't. Regulators also need to be sure that Apple are not using App Review to hinder fair competition.

It’s not about added scrutiny, it’s about allocation of limited resources. People need to stop pearl clutching and asking for managers every time they don’t get exactly what they want from a company. They aren’t singling anyone out, they’re being smart about their limited resources. Unless you mean to tell me apple should hire millions of people to watch every app on the store

 

[Rob_2811]

It’s not about added scrutiny, it’s about allocation of limited resources. People need to stop pearl clutching and asking for managers every time they don’t get exactly what they want from a company. They aren’t singling anyone out, they’re being smart about their limited resources. Unless you mean to tell me apple should hire millions of people to watch every app on the store

No, they should allow alternative distribution of software for iOS and stop insisting that devs use their system for in app payment.

Problem solved, poor little 2 trillion dollar Apple won't have to worry about their 'limited resources' anymore.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

No, they should allow alternative distribution of software for iOS and stop insisting that devs use their system for in app payment.

Problem solved, poor little 2 trillion dollar Apple won't have to worry about their 'limited resources' anymore.

Lol so your solution to having a few spoiled apples in the garden is to open up the walls. Right makes sense.

Not sure why it’s hard for some people to compute the fact that it’s simply impossible for even 50,000 employees to 100% cover an App Store with almost 2 million apps in it. But yeah sure let’s keep making fun of them and saying silly things like “poor apple” and doubling down on the narrative of refusing to accept statistics and math and common sense. I’m super done with this awful discussion, best of luck

 

[cmaier]

You can design patent the look and feel of apps.

Sure, as long as it’s for design elements and not functional elements. Hard to win when you try to enforce it, though. Apple was successful, but many others have failed.

And, of course, if you use Apple’s built-in controls, color-schemes, etc., you aren’t going to get a design patent anyway.

 

[Smith288]

Then you file a DCMA request, patent lawsuit, injunction. Or are people insisting Apple act as if it has legal jurisdiction?

Let me try to reiterate.... Apple says small developers can make it big. We can’t with a few exceptions. I don’t have money to file lawsuits.

I expect Apple to do some cursory checks. Offer tools to file complaints of copy cat/theft.

 

[I7guy]

Lol so your solution to having a few spoiled apples in the garden is to open up the walls. Right makes sense.

Not sure why it’s hard for some people to compute the fact that it’s simply impossible for even 50,000 employees to 100% cover an App Store with almost 2 million apps in it. But yeah sure let’s keep making fun of them and saying silly things like “poor apple” and doubling down on the narrative of refusing to accept statistics and math and common sense. I’m super done with this awful discussion, best of luck

This is why my thought on the matter to break up the app store will make it more difficult for smaller, indie developers. If Apple can't entirely eliminate copycat apps, how would third party app stores protect developers, scan for malware, etc? Unless said third party app store takes care of the same record keeping that Apple does today, the small indie developer is on the hook for various international fees...or can only sell their apps in the US. Either way third part app stores do not sound like a win-win for small independent developer.