Intellectual property

We don’t allow apps that infringe copyright. Modifying copyrighted content may still lead to a violation. Developers may be required to provide evidence of their rights to use copyrighted content.

Please be careful when using copyrighted content to demonstrate the functionality of your app. In general, the safest approach is to create something that’s original.

• Cover art for music albums, video games and books.
• Marketing images from films, television or video games.
• Artwork or images from comic books, cartoons, films, music videos or television.
• College and professional sports team logos.
• Photos taken from a public figure’s social media account.
• Professional images of public figures.
• Reproductions or “fan art” indistinguishable from the original work under copyright.
• Apps that have soundboards that play audio clips from copyrighted content.
• Full reproductions or translations of books that are not in the public domain.

We don’t allow apps that induce or encourage copyright infringement. Before you publish your app, look for ways that your app may be encouraging copyright infringement and seek legal advice if necessary.

• Streaming apps that allow users to download a local copy of copyrighted content without authorisation.

• Apps that encourage users to stream and download copyrighted works, including music and video, in violation of applicable copyright law:

  
   

  ① The description in this app listing encourages users to download copyrighted content without authorisation.
  ② The screenshot in the app listing encourages users to download copyrighted content without authorisation.

We don’t allow apps that infringe on others’ trademarks. A trademark is a word, symbol or combination that identifies the source of a good or service. Once acquired, a trademark gives the owner exclusive rights to the trademark usage with respect to certain goods or services.

Trademark infringement is improper or unauthorised use of an identical or similar trademark in a way that is likely to cause confusion as to the source of that product. If your app uses another party’s trademarks in a way that is likely to cause confusion, your app may be suspended.

We don't allow apps that sell counterfeit goods or promote them for sale. Counterfeit goods contain a trademark or logo that is identical to or substantially indistinguishable from the trademark of another. They mimic the brand features of the product in an attempt to pass themselves off as a genuine product of the brand owner.