Application name taken...

[seanhelmes]

I was trying to submit my app in iTunes Connect and got a message stating that my application's name was already taken, please choose another application name. I legally own the rights to the app name since my company holds the copyright and trademark on the name since it is a brand of our company's. How do I go about handling this issue with Apple? Also, does time have any relevance in this issue since our past iPod related product was titled under this same app name?

[Jeremy1026]

Originally Posted by seanhelmes

I was trying to submit my app in iTunes Connect and got a message stating that my application's name was already taken, please choose another application name. I legally own the rights to the app name since my company holds the copyright and trademark on the name since it is a brand of our company's. How do I go about handling this issue with Apple? Also, does time have any relevance in this issue since our past iPod related product was titled under this same app name?

Sounds like you need to speak with a copywrite lawyer and go after whoever is using your copywrite as their app name.

[StatCoder]

So do you see an actual product in the App Store under your desired name or is the problem that your previous product is interfering with the upload. Since you own the copyright to the name, why not specify what it is so that interested users can take a look.

Remember that copyright infringement isn't a black and white issue. I think I could put an app up in the store that was called "Apple Selector" without any problem if the app used the iPhone microphone to tell how ripe an apple was when flicked with your finger.

[ipro]

Originally Posted by StatCoder

I think I could put an app up in the store that was called "Apple Selector" without any problem if the app used the iPhone microphone to tell how ripe an apple was when flicked with your finger.

do you mind if i use that idea? it's brilliant.

[seanhelmes]

I contacted Apple Developer Connection several times regarding this issue and about two weeks later I received a call from Apple's Legal Dept. who was very helpful in resolving this issue. They contacted the other developer that was using my trademark and they renamed their application, respectfully.

[Groucho]

Good news! I'm glad to hear it worked out.