DMCA notice and now app delisted

Shopify App Store
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1

Hi,

One of my apps received a DMCA notice. On checking the notice, I could not find what is being violated.

I replied to the email and asked for clarification on what has been violated so that I can take necessary action to remove content or anything that violates anything copyrighted.

But no response.

On follow-up, the legal team responded that I need to check with my legal team, but did not help in any way to explain what the app listing is violating.

Now my app is delisted, I have contacted support and replied to the email, but there is no response or help.

This is quite perplexing and confusing.
Any idea what I can do to get this sorted?

Thanks,
Navdeep

P.S : We have not copied any screens or created anything that is a look-alike of the brand

2

Can you spill the beans on who it was?

I’m afraid this might become a common strategy.

3

Meta ( whatsapp )

I am not sure if understood what strategy a brand is trying to pull down an app. I see quite a few similar apps not on app store probably they have also been taken down.

But I was expecting Shopify to help and understand what we can do to resolve. They are just not responding. I assume a Shopify app being taken down should have been a high priority thing.

4

The strategy is sending fake DMCA to your competitors, it was a fairly popular strategy with stores not long ago, and that’s why they now make you sign the DMCA

1 Like
5

App is delisted now. What is next step now to go back live.

6

I had the same issue. I built a connector for a big analytics platform and I named my app a connector. They sent me a DMCA notice. I couldn’t afford a lawyer at the time, they scared me, and I ended up deleting an app that was making $2.5k MRR

7

It seems a bunch of apps are suffering from meta sending DMCAs recently:

8

Thats correct.. I see a lot of apps not visible on App Store now, but some are using WhatsApp logo and words, but no action.

I have DMCA and trademark notice, but not sure how many others are live.

Also some clarity or change in guidelines is required before even approving apps. It saves time for team legal@shopify, support, and developers for future

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9

So just to clarify - did you app name contain Whatsapp in the title or feature any copyrighted logos from Meta in your app listing?

10

Correct. But has been removed now by most apps in this space after these bulk notices.

There have been many tweets about this. I hope Shopify responds with some guidelines as Meta won’t be the last one

11

Sorry, that’s tough. That is a copyrighted term and within their rights to enforce.

I’m not sure why Meta decided to enforce now, but maybe they have plans to release their own integration. Who knows.

But I expect all of these Whatsapp titled apps will be delisted or required to change their names.

12

true.. also the apps should not have been approved in the first place

13

It’s not Shopify’s copyright to enforce?