Telegram app update was held up over iOS-inspired animated emoji [u]

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Posted:
in General Discussion edited August 2022
Apple has approved Telegram's latest update, but only after the developers removed animated emoji based on Apple's designs.




On Thursday, CEO Pavel Durov posted that an upcoming app update for Telegram had been stuck in Apple's review process for two weeks with no explanation.

As it turns out, Apple had taken issue with the new addition a specific "Telemoji pack."

Telemoji are animated emoji that are exclusive to the platform. The Telemoji pack in question was heavily inspired by iOS-specific emoji, but featured animations created by Telegram.

"This is a puzzling move on Apple's behalf, because Telemoji would have brought an entire new dimension to its static low-resolution emoji and would have significantly enriched their ecosystem," Durov writes in a Telegram post.

After removing the iOS-themed pack, Apple has approved the update, which is now live on the Telegram App Store page.

Durov says that he believes this would be "good for Telegram in the long term" as it would encourage the platform to explore its own in-house style for emoji.

Speaking to AppleInsider, Apple insists it welcomes all apps to the App Store, so long as they comply to App Store Review Guidelines, which the iPhone maker says apply equally to all developers. The guidelines are made to protect more than user safety and security, but also to prevent the violation of trademarks and other IP rights.

During the app's review, Apple found Telegram's emoji feature used the same design as the company's own emoji, which violates guideline 5.2.5 that prohibits apps and extensions from using Apple emoji.

Apple says it provided clear communications with Telegram throughout the review process, including that it would take longer for reviewing the app. In the case of Telegram's rejection, Apple provided a written notice and a phone call, with the latter checking Telegram knew the reason for the rejection, and how to get back into compliance.

When the designs were pulled from the app, Apple cleared Telegram for approval.

Update: 11:05 Eastern: Added Apple's response to AppleInsider.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,637member
    That was the ground breaking update to telecommunications?


    baconstanglolliverwatto_cobrawilliamlondondoozydozenracerhomie3fred1cpsrobonobobchia
     13Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 2 of 12
    "enriched their ecosystem..."?!?!?!?!  There is no way he could possibly say that with a straight face.
    lolliverwatto_cobrawilliamlondondoozydozenmattinozcaladanianbonobobchiajony0
     9Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 12
    baconstangbaconstang Posts: 1,182member
    Thank GAWD!  Finally there can be peace in the metaverse.

    Now if they could just put their heads together and do something about that kerfuffle in Ukraine...
    watto_cobrawilliamlondonfred1JaiOh81appleinsideruserjony0
     6Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 12
    red oakred oak Posts: 1,117member
    What a clown.  You can’t Apple’s design and make it your own 

    He seems a little off and unstable 
    ronn
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 12
    mattinoz said:
    That was the ground breaking update to telecommunications?


    Both articles referencing this were a waste of time, from the lack of stating the addition in the first one to the ripoff of Animoji in this one.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 12
    So ripping off Apple's emoji and animating them now would inspire Telegram to explore their own in-house style in the future? Yeah, right. Just develop your own in-house style right now!
    ronnwilliamlondon
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 12
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    So ripping off Apple's emoji and animating them now would inspire Telegram to explore their own in-house style in the future? Yeah, right. Just develop your own in-house style right now!
    No, he’s saying that Apple blocking it will encourage them to pursue their own style. 

    Not sure what Apple gains from blocking the original design, their emoji are system wide so blocking other apps for keeping to that style is only harming the system’s consistency, making apps discordant with the OS.  No one wins from that.
    muthuk_vanalingamjony0
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  • Reply 8 of 12
    ronnronn Posts: 704member
    Apple says it provided clear communications with Telegram throughout the review process, including that it would take longer for reviewing the app. In the case of Telegram's rejection, Apple provided a written notice and a phone call, with the latter checking Telegram knew the reason for the rejection, and how to get back into compliance

    So a tech CEO apparently lied. Color me shocked!

    jony0
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 9 of 12
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    ronn said:
    Apple says it provided clear communications with Telegram throughout the review process, including that it would take longer for reviewing the app. In the case of Telegram's rejection, Apple provided a written notice and a phone call, with the latter checking Telegram knew the reason for the rejection, and how to get back into compliance

    So a tech CEO apparently lied. Color me shocked!

    Nowhere does it say that Apple informed Telegram of the reason for the delay before the rejection.
    beowulfschmidt
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 10 of 12
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,275member
    With an attitude like that towards IP rights, does Telegram also copy user messages?
    edited August 2022
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  • Reply 11 of 12
    ronnronn Posts: 704member
    crowley said:
    ronn said:
    Apple says it provided clear communications with Telegram throughout the review process, including that it would take longer for reviewing the app. In the case of Telegram's rejection, Apple provided a written notice and a phone call, with the latter checking Telegram knew the reason for the rejection, and how to get back into compliance

    So a tech CEO apparently lied. Color me shocked!

    Nowhere does it say that Apple informed Telegram of the reason for the delay before the rejection.
    Durov called it "abusive" and "harm"when it is the standard review process as practiced by Apple -- the same process which he's complained about in the past. His putting review in quotes should have been a tipoff. I won't even get into the silliness about how Telegram will "revolutionize how people express themselves in messaging."
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 12 of 12
    crowley said:
    So ripping off Apple's emoji and animating them now would inspire Telegram to explore their own in-house style in the future? Yeah, right. Just develop your own in-house style right now!
    No, he’s saying that Apple blocking it will encourage them to pursue their own style. 

    Not sure what Apple gains from blocking the original design, their emoji are system wide so blocking other apps for keeping to that style is only harming the system’s consistency, making apps discordant with the OS.  No one wins from that.
    You can already use Apple's emoji in any app. That's consistency.

    If Telegram is allowed to wholesale copy the built-in emoji and rebrand it as their own, users will wonder why their emoji in other apps aren't animated. Because to the user, these look exactly the same as Apple's. "My emoji animate in Telegram but not in Apple's Messages app. Apple's app must be broken!"
    tdknoxronnfreeassociate2
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
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