Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do?

Posted by aerovistae on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @12:48PM
from the ask-hn dept.

I have no idea how, but I've just seen my app on the iOS store before I've released it, made by a developer in China. It's not like a clone....it's the exact same game, pixel for pixel. Someone got my repository and just uploaded it as their own app. I can't even begin to fathom how.

What can I do? The app is already approved in "My Apps" on iTunes connect and I had it up before they published it, but I just didn't put it up for sale yet because I wasn't ready. Anyone cursorily glancing at the promotional images can see the game is 100% identical, unchanged.

I doubt I would have even made money off the game anyway but nonetheless this is really frustrating. I learned iOS just to make this. Do I have any recourse? Has this happened to anyone else?

( 12 comments | 23 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by walterbell on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @01:04PM (#9687076)

Where is your source code hosted? It may be worth asking a security person to take a look at your laptop or development environment, for signs of persistent malware. As bad as this is, you will want to make sure it does not happen again.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by coryl on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @02:01PM (#9687465)

You can do a C&D through Apple, they will usually forward an email to the developer, but not sure how partial they are to enforcing a case.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by speedyapoc on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @05:05PM (#9688530)

In my experience they just act as a mediator. I haven't seen them really do anything other than nag - it's all up to the developer to be compliant. However, these were cases where it wasn't a clear right and wrong. In OP's case, they might be quick to do something.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by aerovistae on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @04:58PM (#9688502)

How can I do this?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by speedyapoc on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @05:04PM (#9688523)

http://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/appstore...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by aerovistae on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @05:52PM (#9688769)

Thank you very much. I submitted one. I had looked for this or something like it and was unable to find it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by retali8 on Friday June 12, 2015 @05:05AM (#9704745)

This is why we never host closed-source code online. ....Can you really trust the third party sys-admins managing your servers? It's easy to simply blame everything on malicious hackers. Also, check your computer for malware.

There isn't much else you can do besides get a lawyer and prove you built it first.

&& check your pc for malware / rootkits

I guess take it as a hard lesson, since you mentioned repo -- stop trusting "the cloud" for all your secret stuff. Somebody has to manage all that and there is definitely somebody besides you who can see all that. If you're going to backup online, encrypt everything before you upload. Never leave your source code hanging out naked on the internet...and yes, naked also means placing them unobfuscated, unencrypted on "private clouds"

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by coffeebro on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @01:01PM (#9687055)

Sorry to hear that. If you have any time-stamped material in a repository or on ITunes Connect, put up a blog post with what happened. Launch your app as soon as possible. I don't think there is anything tangible you can do unless you think there was some foul legal play.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by alain94040 on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @02:27PM (#9687674)

If it's yours, you own the copyright to the source code and game assets, so you are in good shape.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by lepy on Thursday June 11, 2015 @03:15AM (#9698131)

How is that even possible? The link?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by cekanoni on Thursday June 11, 2015 @04:54AM (#9698497)

Did you check if you are not targeted by some one, having RAT in your pc maybe ?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Someone stole my iOS app, what can I do? by ratfacemcgee on Tuesday June 09, 2015 @10:06PM (#9689634)

i hope it goes well for you, I would be gutted if that happened to me.

[ Parent | on HN ]