Stickers: [iOS] Got reject from Apple

[foma24]

Got reject from Apple with 2 issues:
Guidelines 2.3.7 - Performance - Accurate Metadata
We noticed that your app name or subtitle to be displayed on the App Store includes the following trademarked term or popular app name, which is not appropriate for use in these metadata items.
Specifically, your app name or subtitle included the term, WhatsApp.

My start from "Whats App Stickers - [Name]" - I searched in AppStore 2 days ago Telegram LLC published stickers for WhatsApp with similar name. How it can be ?

Guideline 4.1 - Design - Copycats
Your metadata appears to contain third party content. Specifically, your app create misleading association with WhatsApp app.
The next submission of this app may require a longer review time, and this app will not be eligible for an expedited review until this issue is resolved.

How can be resolve this issues ?

[firstangel999]

Tell to reviewer your app is a real WhatsApp stickers app based on the last updates of WhatsApp and the new stickers features of WhatsApp and put the link to this repository and to this faq on WhatsApp website https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/26000226?lang=en

[Shaninnik]

I have already opened similar issue #59

[podycust]

pretty much did that @firstangel999 still got reject with 4.3 as it needs WhatsApp installed to work etc

[ranrinc]

I post a duplicate question... so sorry... I guess apple are trying to make developer life uneasy. Damn...

[foma24]

Got second reject from Apple -

Guideline 4.3 - Design
We noticed that your app provides the same feature set as other apps submitted to the App Store; it simply varies in content or language, which is considered a form of spam.

I guess when WhatsApp published this sample app, they did not read App Store Review Guidelines and the Terms & Conditions of the Apple Developer Program.

[cuddee]

Hello everyone, I got the same reject as @foma24. Is there any solution yet or anything we can do? It is so frustrating to spend days on creating a sticker app and to not get an approval in the end. :(

[foma24]

Send appeal for app.

Got next message

The App Review Board evaluated your app and determined that the original rejection feedback is valid. Your app does not comply with:

Design 4.3

During our review, we found that this app duplicates the content and functionality of other apps submitted to the App Store, which is considered a form of spam and not appropriate for the App Store.

Apps submitted to the App Store should be unique and should not duplicate other apps. We encourage you to create a unique app to submit to the App Store. For more information about developing apps for the App Store, visit the Develop section of the Apple Developer website.

We hope you will consider making the necessary changes to be in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines.

Best regards,
Taylor
App Review Board

[akaraca]

Got the same message. Spam!? :)

From Apple

1. 3 Design: Spam
   Guideline 4.3 - Design

We noticed that your app provides the same feature set as other apps submitted to the App Store; it >simply varies in content or language, which is considered a form of spam.

The next submission of this app may require a longer review time, and this app will not be eligible for >an expedited review until this issue is resolved.

[foma24]

Carefully all who try publish stickers for WhatsApp in AppStore. I have more then 100 stickers pack for iMessage in AppStore. After I tried publish stickers for WhatsApp all my stickers for iMessage was marked as spam too. Now I can't publish new stickers or update old.

[firstangel999]

@foma24 really they marked your iMessage stickers as spam? Someone in reviewer team going insane now O_o

[foma24]

1. 3 Design: Spam
   Guideline 4.3 - Design

Your app provides the same feature set as many of the other apps you've submitted to the App Store; it simply varies in content or language. Creating multiple Bundle IDs of the same app is not appropriate.

To resolve this issue, please combine apps with similar feature sets into a single "container" app. You should differentiate varied content within your app by categorizing elements into groups, using the in-app purchase API, and location services to deliver content to users.

Once you have done so, please reply to this message via Resolution Center indicating the app name and Apple ID of any "container" apps submitted under your Apple Developer Program account.

[akaraca]

@foma24 someone should teach Whatsapp stickers to review team. Or is this just politics? :/

[ptkdev]

@foma24 me too, apple testers are idiots

[firstangel999]

@foma24 maybe i understand the 4.3 issue for WhatsApp Stickers App but for iMessage Stickers is stupid and insane....basically iMessage Stickers App can be published separately without problem

[foma24]

@firstangel999 Funny read that

Your app provides the same feature set as many of the other apps you've submitted to the App Store
Because Apple have own stickers packs for iMessage which have the same feature set as many of the other his apps.

I want try send apilation, but don't know how create correct text for this

[firstangel999]

@foma24
First explain that Stickers Pack for iMessage are based on Stickers Apps base project in xCode like is explained in this two page https://developer.apple.com/stickers/ and https://developer.apple.com/app-store/sticker-submissions/
For years developers can submit and update more stickers packs for iMessage than one, without problem of guideline.

Personally i think someone in Reviewer Team need to be fired

[ranrinc]

@firstangel999 I wish WA team are helping us in this matter or they dont really care? Yes the Apple team are really an Idiot or maybe trying to kill the competitor? This sticker submission being said as a spam is totally BS... Maybe this can be rised up to blog/publication like verge etc? Hopeless so far..

BTW sending email to [email protected] and I got response regarding WA problem and never got any reply back.....

[firstangel999]

@ranrinc i think this is a more big problem:
1) Someone (not all i think) in App Store Reviewer Team are really idiot
2) Maybe Apple trying to kill competitors...but competitors of what? iMessage is only for iPhone and is basically an sms app that between two iPhone/iPad have plus features...WhatsApp is a messaging for iOs and android....basically two different apps.
3) Now they block updates for existent iMessage stickers apps too? this is insane

I like so much the idea to offer stickers for WhatsApp in form of App.....this permit to developer to offer a much complex experience and this permit to developer and non-developer to offer Free/Paid Stickers app without problem.

Personally my first version of stickers pack sell well but after my update being rejected i rethink the app and added other features and revamped graphically as i told in another thread.
If this update being rejected i plan to add an iMessage extension inside...and i if rejected again i seriously think to open a little petition under change.org....because this situation in really absurd

[ranrinc]

@firstangel999 since I'm a novice programmer and basically have no experience in xcode this github really help in order to create the sticker pack. Is there away for you to assist on how we can change the code/graphics? BTW the reason why I think the reviewer is bias because they say

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

While we appreciate your explanations, during our review, we found that this app duplicates the content and functionality of other apps submitted to the App Store, which is considered a form of spam and not appropriate for the App Store.

Apps submitted to the App Store should be unique and should not duplicate other apps. We encourage you to create a unique app to submit to the App Store. For more information about developing apps for the App Store, visit the Develop section of the Apple Developer website.

We look forward to reviewing your future submissions.

Best regards,

App Store Review

What???? Is a sticker packs apps.. We are creating a sticker and the sticker should be the creative part and not the apps??

[ptkdev]

I do not understand, the problem of publication is there only if exist same stickes package of imessage? Imho my package is reject because exist same package but for imessage

[ranrinc]

@ptkdev huh? your iMessage contain the same sticker? that why it got rejected?

[akaraca]

Same deal here, today same sticker set for iMessage got rejected too. Same reason 4.3 Design: Spam. It doesn't even have a design, it's default code from Xcode and original content.

[foma24]

I published brand new stickers for iMessage after was got reject for WhatsApp stickers. I suppose every developer who tried published whatsapp stikers was marked as spamer.

[akaraca]

In a forum post, I found this, how can I change the framework, where there is no other than what Apple provided?

"..They reject submissions on the Rule 4.3 Design Spam (underlying framework is the same for Sticker Packs generated using the Xcode TEMPLATE; only the content (i.e. images) are changed).."

https://forums.developer.apple.com/thread/52286

[firstangel999]

I think I understand at least one problem.
who have a stickers pack for WhatsApp and a stickers pack for iMessage...both with the same stickers in the store, need to add a sticker pack extension with the same stickers for have all set in one single app.
Here an interesting article http://thinkdiff.net/ios/apple-app-review-guidelines-double-standard-container-app-4-3-spam/

[akaraca]

@firstangel999 problem is they didn't accept my WhatsApp stickers, so they are not in the store. So, I decided to publish iMessage stickers instead. Now I can't do it either.

[foma24]

@firstangel999 There have 2 moments:

1. In rejects message have next information

During our review, we found that this app duplicates the content and functionality of other apps submitted to the App Store, which is considered a form of spam and not appropriate for the App Store. Apps submitted to the App Store should be unique and should not duplicate other apps. We encourage you to create a unique app to submit to the App Store

That means it's not about your other stickers app. That means other developers already published same app.

Rejects about same stickers in different your apps looks like

Your app provides the same feature set as many of the other apps you've submitted to the App Store; it simply varies in content or language. Creating multiple Bundle IDs of the same app is not appropriate.

1. As I wrote above I got reject for brand new iMessage stickers with message

Your app provides the same feature set as many of the other apps you've submitted to the App Store; it simply varies in content or language. Creating multiple Bundle IDs of the same app is not appropriate.

I suppose that mean that developer account marked as spamer too.

[foma24]

@firstangel999 It was your first iMessage sticker pack or you had another before you published Whats App stickers ?

[firstangel999]

i have 8-9 stickers packs for iMessage published before my stickers pack for whatsapp

[ptkdev]

When solution is delete iMessage stickers and add stickers iMessage to whatsapp stickers app = single app with stickers and iMessage?

[firstangel999]

@ptkdev exactly
i found this another interesting link https://forums.developer.apple.com/thread/86587

[foma24]

When solution is delete iMessage stickers and add stickers iMessage to whatsapp stickers app = single app with stickers and iMessage?

You can't delete app from iTunesConnect

[firstangel999]

@foma24 you can delete now (is under app information in iTunesConnect) and can remove from selling

[foma24]

@firstangel999 don't know, thanks

[ptkdev]

Ok:

• i remove from sell stickers iMessage
• i send in waiting for review stickers whatsapp

I write you if work!

[akaraca]

After 2-3 messages to review team, iMessage stickers is approved and placed in app store. Still no news from my appeal to Whatsapp sticker app.

[foma24]

@akaraca What did your wrote for review team ?

[akaraca]

My last message was below, then it went to review again and got approval.

I used the tutorials direct from developer.apple.com pages shown as below. Do you mean these >videos are creating spam apps?

https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/tutorials/building-sticker-packs/
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/tutorials/itc-stickers-part1/
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/tutorials/itc-stickers-part2/

[foma24]

It went to review automatuically ?

[akaraca]

@foma24 They send me a message about re-evaluating the app. Then it went to review.

[foma24]

@akaraca send similar message with same links, got message which was above again

Thank you for your resubmission.

We found that this app provides the same feature set as other apps submitted to the App Store; it only varies slightly in content or language. We ask that you consolidate your existing sticker apps, as well as any apps that you submit to the App Store.

Please combine apps with similar feature sets into a single "container" app (using the in-app purchase API to deliver different content if appropriate).

I suppose this message send automatically)

[akaraca]

@foma24 seems I got lucky. It looks like an automated message.

This is my first iMessage sticker, maybe that's why.

[amrit-1901]

Apologies for the late response on this issue: we've been trying to figure out the best way to solve this problem. Apple doesn't like developers using a standardized template, which is why most of your apps have been rejected for 4.3. Please don't try to appeal this decision too many times or Apple might threaten to close your developer account. Instead, your best bet is to make your own UI. Just use this sample app as a guide on how to do the import process, but don't publish your app by making zero modifications to the sample.

[ranrinc]

@amrit-1901 any help for those who are not programming savvy.. in which part should we edit? thanks

[firstangel999]

@amrit-1901 personally i have partially reskinned (about 60%-70%) the base app and added more thing inside like categories for the stickers (every category load a different json stickers pack), like a news section, push notifications and continuously my app (updated app and not first version...first version is on the store without problem) is rejected (last rejection yesterday). Next step is adding one iMessage extension with the same stickers....but after this, i don't know what i need to add....maybe a notepad like the other billion notepad app in the store....Apple likes Notepad...Notepad are fun (sorry for the sarcasm)

[ranrinc]

@firstangel999 oh man... this is bad news.. just upload my 2nd sticker pack with some modification... AAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHHH nooooo.....

[ranrinc]

@firstangel999 oh man... this is bad news.. just upload my 2nd sticker pack with some modification... AAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHHH nooooo.....

[MarsVard]

I have rewritten the entire app, but still got rejected. added new features like "add stickers to your photo from camera or gallery" and still nothing
My rewritten app has a different UI and almost no code copied from this repo. Is apple just boycotting this? any feedback from repo maintainers?

[firstangel999]

@MarsVard the reason of rejecting?

[MarsVard]

@firstangel999 same as everybody else: 4.3

[ptkdev]

@MarsVard you have other app with stickers? (example: imessage). You need create a single app (stickers whatsapp + imessage)

[firstangel999]

@ptkdev you resolved making a single container app?

[MarsVard]

@ptkdev don't even have iMessage app, I'm not sure I even want to try to upload a build with iMessage extension... seems like it won't matter to them...

[ptkdev]

@firstangel999 is in review from 5 days... I hate apple

[Zandor300]

Closed in favor of a more active issue: https://github.com/WhatsApp/stickers/issues/230