

Ask HN: Someone ripped off my app, is there any recourse with Apple?  - wacheena

I built a simple Android app: 
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tenromans.birthdaycake.free<p>And I discovered today that a developer has taken the graphics and rebuilt it for iPhone:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/make-birthday-cake/id469010303?mt=8<p>Frankly, that's the nature of the business.  Things get copied all the time.  But it also kinda sticks because the graphics and whatnot are my IP.<p>Is there any recourse with Apple to have them remove the app from the iTunes store?
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tstegart
You should be able to file a copyright complaint with Apple:
<http://www.apple.com/legal/contact/>

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squidbot
This is definitely the appropriate response, and I've found Apple very
reasonable in these situations if you are able to prove copyright.

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kentnguyen
I have witness a similar case where one Apple dev rip off another developer by
repacking and then resubmit the same app. He submit a request to Apple and
then a few days later that clone app got pulled.

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chris_dcosta
The was a thread here on HN about another copycat app but I can't find it for
now.

It was a slightly different case in that both apps were in the Apple App
store, and I guess it would be easy to prove "prior art".

Your case is different in that Apple hav no record of your app being in their
echo system, you would have to demonstrate prior art somehow, otherwise it
could be argued that you have copied them.

If you have any documentation proving the dates on which your app was accepted
into the Android market, that would help.

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smashing
You could send a DMCA notice to Apple for the app, but I find it strange that
you would ask people on this site on protecting your copyright when YC is so
vehemently opposed to copyright monopolies like yours. I support copyrights
though, so good luck. Here is the link:
<https://www.apple.com/legal/trademark/claimsofcopyright.html>

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wacheena
Android link correction. This is the paid ($0.99) version:
[https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tenromans.birthday...](https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tenromans.birthdaycake)

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coryl
Quick question, do people buy your app on android?

