App Store Incorrectly Rejects App Over "Undocumented API Use"
A developer has had his app rejected by Apple's App Store because he used undocumented APIs. Problem is, he didn't.
Landon Fuller developed a photo contact management system called Peeps. On his blog, he outlined the rejection:
Upon review of your application, Peeps cannot be posted to the App Store due to the usage of a non-public API. Usage of non-public APIs, as outlined in the iPhone SDK Agreement section 3.3.1, is prohibited:However, Fuller states that he didn't use any undocumented APIs. Rather, "when I needed a CoverFlow-like user interface I wrote my own -- from scratch. I suppose I should be flattered that Apple mistook it for their own implementation."
"3.3.1 Applications may only use Published APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any unpublished or private APIs."
The non-public API that is included in your application comes from the CoverFlow API set.
While using an undocumented API would violate SDK rules, what about the fact that Google has admitted to using undocumented APIs in its new release of the Google Mobile App? I haven't seen that app being bumped from the App Store, despite a public acknowledgement of the violation by Google. What, Apple doesn't read the news?
No, taken at face value, it seems like Google has received a free pass on this violation. And that's something I expressed concern over in my earlier post. The App Store approval process should ensure a level playing field. That's what the rules are for. If it does not, developers will start heading for the other hot OS platform: Android.
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2 comments:
My application got rejected yesterday for the same reason. And the funny thing is I have zero undocumented APIs in my code. It almost feels like some incompetent nincompoop is review the apps using a tool which just raises red flags based on an engine written by a loser programmer. And it incorrectly flags the use of undocumented APIs. I am so frustrated because there is nothing I can do at this point. I am at the App Store's mercy
For the past 6 weeks two of my applications keep getting rejected over and over for the same explanation. Reference to an undocumented API that I'm not even using. I've sent e-mails, code snippets, etc. Seems like they ignore you once it's been rejected. So the last time I re-submitted the binary for each and started sending preemptive gripes. The wording changed but they still reject saying I'm using code that I'm not using. It really does seem like some bozo is looking at the application, sees a full screen camera view and immediately thinks I could only achieve that through invalid means. I've seen several approved apps with full screen camera views and one in particular that blogged his source code of undocumented API references. That's why I sent Apple my source and copies of their own SDK Class References to prove I wasn't cheating. The lack of transparency and fairness really really ticks me off!
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