Ars Technica points us to the growing concern over App Store applications getting ripped off and/or copied by other developers. The applications they compare are two eBook readers: Classics and Classics: Jane Austen. Classics is popular, and was featured on Apple’s broadcasted iPhone ads. Classics: Jane Austen however is a mirror-image of the application, both in graphics and interface.
Developers trying to benefit from the success of others on the App Store is nothing new. The most common method thus far has been to use the names of some of the more popular apps in the description of a different app, so when an individual searches for the more popular app, the seedy developer’s application comes up as well. To date, Apple hasn’t done anything about this tactic.
It’s been noted as of February 18th that the offending program has since been removed from the App Store since the publication of Ars Technica’s post:
Since publishing the Classics: Jane Austin application has been removed from the iTunes Store, but it is unclear as to who is responsible at this time. The developer, however, still has several other applications available that according to a Classics developer make use of stolen graphics. Phil Ryu has told us that as of this time he has no plans to pursue legal action as long as the graphics and sounds are taken from the offending applications.
The fact this happened in the first place at the App Store worries developers, more so than the sudden disappearance of the application with no word from Apple.
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