If the standards are different every time you review, is there such a thing as a standard?

What is “VPET”? Does your app resemble it?

"VPET" is an abbreviation for Virtual Pet, a genre of toys popular in the 90's. I made an app for people who actually play with this toy. Apple always says something different about exactly where I copied the design. If I reply to an incomprehensible reason for refusal that comes every time, it is a repetition again. I even sent a 3-page PDF document attached, but there is no reply to it, and it is repeating the same words like a parrot.

Wait until the copyright expires in 2040ish.

Or, ask whoever owns the rights for permission and send the contract to Apple.

Or, get an intellectual property lawyer to write an opinion saying you’re not infringing anything and send that to Apple.

Fundamentally it sounds like whoever owns the rights to VPET has complained to Apple about copycat apps and now Apple filters them out. There have been a few similar cases. Apple will not attempt to arbitrate, they will just reject everything until there is no mention and no similarity.

Even though I replied clearly about it, a proper answer did not come. I just have to keep asking for reviews until I get a reasonable reviewer. If you guys reply to the message, do you get a message reply from Apple even if you don't review the app again?

You say:

If the standards are different every time

What is different, between which times ?

It's been rejected eight times now. One reviewer made it clear that the icon of my app was the problem. (Reviewer also captured and attached my icon image.) So I sent a reply that I modified it with the revised design image, and the reviewer even replied as below. "Thank you for your reply. We apply your effects to complain with the App Store Review Guidelines, and we look forward to review your submitted app."

But they rejected my app in the review with a captured image of my app. I couldn't understand the meaning of the captured image, so I typed a square in all the parts corresponding to the captured image and replied, "Which part is the copycat?" but there was no answer, and I kept rejecting it as the copycat.

Now, without saying exactly what part of it is a copycat, it just repeats, "Specifically, your app includes content that resembles VPET."

I think I'm talking about an app called "VPET," which has already been posted on the App Store, so I replied that "VPET," which I'm now posting on the App Store, is a game based on a toy made in the 90s by a company called Bandai, and my app is a recording app for people who play with it. They'll refuse again without a reply.

I think I'm talking about an app called "VPET" which is already in the App Store. So I replied, "VPET in the App Store is a game based on a toy made in the 90s by a company called Bandai, and my app is a recording app for people who play with it." They'll refuse again without a reply.

Their logic is the same as saying that the puppy diary app cannot be released because the puppy game is already in the App Store.

I just want them to read my reply and give me a reason for refusal that I can understand instead of repeating the same words like a robot.

Hello,

Is this an update for the app or the first release? When you said your app was rejected 8 times, that means that 8 times you submitted it to review and it was rejected each time with the same, different or mixed guideline? And finnally.. did you put "VPET" keyword into your metadata?

a toy made in the 90s by a company called Bandai, and my app is a recording app for people who play with it

Do you have Bandai’s permission for your app?

If not, what is the legal basis for your use of their intellectual property?