Apple pulls API doc browser Dash citing 'repeated fraudulent activity'
Apple has pulled Dash, a popular API documentation resource, from the Mac and iOS App Stores, claiming that developer Bogdan Popescu manipulated reviews to get more downloads.
On Wednesday Popescu received a notification that his iTunes Connect account was being shut down for "fraudulent activity," according to MacRumors. The company is said to have refused to elaborate at first, but after Dash's removal gained some public attention, Apple eventually told Popescu he was accused of manipulating reviews, for instance by paying for positive ones.
Popescu has denied any wrongdoing, but said that Apple informed him its decision is final and can't be appealed.
In unusual executive-level involvement, Apple's worldwide marketing head Phil Schiller blamed Dash's removal on "repeated fraudulent activity" in an email response to a person called Matthew Eis.
Apple has been known to reverse course on App Store removals if it later determines that a mistake was made. Because Dash is no longer being sold by Apple, though, the controversial reviews are no longer visible. Developers can still buy Dash as a direct download.
On Wednesday Popescu received a notification that his iTunes Connect account was being shut down for "fraudulent activity," according to MacRumors. The company is said to have refused to elaborate at first, but after Dash's removal gained some public attention, Apple eventually told Popescu he was accused of manipulating reviews, for instance by paying for positive ones.
Popescu has denied any wrongdoing, but said that Apple informed him its decision is final and can't be appealed.
In unusual executive-level involvement, Apple's worldwide marketing head Phil Schiller blamed Dash's removal on "repeated fraudulent activity" in an email response to a person called Matthew Eis.
Apple has been known to reverse course on App Store removals if it later determines that a mistake was made. Because Dash is no longer being sold by Apple, though, the controversial reviews are no longer visible. Developers can still buy Dash as a direct download.
Comments
and the "developer has lost all available revenue streams for his software with no obvious recourse" and "hopefully the issue can be resolved so Dash can return to the App Store" and "it most likely was an innocent error by Apple that will be reversed".
When the story first came up, I didn't really think the developer was being entirely honest. Something didn't feel right.
Now that we've seen Schiller look into it, there really isn't any doubt. Schiller isn't an idiot, he certainly wouldn't send an email like that knowing it would go public without being 100% certain that he's correct.
It would've been nice to see a more detailed explanation of what went down, but I guess in most cases these shut downs occur because of obvious fraud and they've never considered that anyone they're shutting down deserves any reason for it (because the "developer" probably already knows exactly why they've been shut down).
The galactic police are really busy these days, but I'm sure once they wrap up their Saturn investigation they'll get right on it!
I have no idea if the guy was manipulating them or not, unfortunately the lack of an appeals process means that many people will simply believe Apple and assume that he is a liar.
Frankly if if I was a developer and thought I was in the right I'd take Apple to court for defamation of character or something similar. Frankly it is a big insult to have your business disrupted like this if you have done nothing wrong. On the other hand if you did do something wrong then I guess you do nothing. It is pretty obvious that something is seriously wrong with Apples policies here though, the lack of an explanation and proof is disturbing to say the least.
What is the anti-Apple view? From some accounts, it appears that a successful app developer who generates revenue for Apple was singled out for no good reason and ejected from the App Store. That story is missing a few essential details before I buy it.
Apple has earned plenty of goodwill with me, so until the evidence is stronger than a bunch of what-ifs, I won't second-guess the company's decisions. Without any more information than this article contains, I would bet that this developer has had multiple prior warnings from Apple. My second bet (longer odds) would be that he has done more than juice the rating of his app. Rule-breakers break rules.
I appreciate the ratings provided by the App Store and iTunes Store. If Apple policies can prevent developers from manipulating them, they are highly useful. If it can't, the ratings amount to false advertising and fraud. I don't see how Apple can run a $25 billion business without imposing any quality controls on the process.