Touch Code Magazine

When you create an application in iTunes connect it automatically checks whether an app with the same name exists and doesn’t allow you to create your new app if yes. However you can always add an exclamation mark in the end of the app name or “HD” or “Lite” or whatever else and you are ready to go. It looks like some people are up to doing exactly that in hope to steal some of the search results when customers are looking to buy some relatively popular apps (but not too popular right, not willing to deal with lawyers here – just grabbing a bit of dough under the radar)

Let’s have a look at few apps:

Doodle Booth

DoodleBooth is a free app for iPhone (released by me, hehe) it has 6 updates with new content and functionalities over the course of 1 year and it also has 2 version for iPad – Doodle Booth HD and Doodle Booth HD Free – the iPad versions also have 3 updates with content and new features. You can from iTunes to the publisher web site (Underplot Apps) and have also a feedback form, from where people send us questions or just thanks, etc.

Doodle Booth is released on January the 14th, 2011

Now let’s have a look at a totally different application (but in a way very similar one)

Introducing: Doodle Booth Cam HD Lite

Sounds familiar? Yup – they stuck a “Cam” in there, but otherwise pretty similar. Let’s have a look – released on the 1st of September, 2011. It never had ANY updates or bug fixes, it has ONE screenshot, which doesn’t show anything from the user interface. And guess what – they don’t have a web site OR any support page (as Apple requires devs to) … on the other hand they have over a hundred apps on the App Store. Great. Good job fantom publisher “Pop-ok.com”!

Let’s have a look at another example:

Blood Booth

Blood Booth is another app of mine (very similar to Doodle Booth, but on another topic) released on February the 26th, 2011 – it has one cumulative update with bug fixes and content updates. Again you can go to our publisher web site and contact us via the support form.

Now let’s fast forward to October the 1st, 2011 – Blood Booth ultd is released. Sounds familiar? Yeah – they added “ultd” at the end of the name. Again a fantom developer with no web site or support page (I’m wondering whether Apple checks these things at all anymore?) Also have a look at part of the app description “What would you look like with a “few” extra pounds? And what about your friends?
Find out with BloodBooth, a fun way to instantly supersize faces on your iPhone or iPod Touch.” Notice something? The text is copied from a fat booth application – it’s not relevant to the app at all! Again – one release, no bug fixes or updates. But wait there’s more – and it’s funnier:

the app is copyright of “blood booth llc 2008-2001″ and wait for it … it is released by “BEST BOOTH SANTA XMAS LIMITED” – notice how the name of the publisher is SEO optimized for the holidays? but wait there’s even more – previously (before the holiday season) the publisher was known as “DOODLE  BIRDS JUMP CALL DUTY” – notice how it contains words from 4 best selling apps? lol

So … ?

Well … I’d wildly guess one can’t do much about copycats, but please (!) if you have recommendations – share in the comments – I guess many of the dear readers would be interested to hear what the others have to say on the topic.

I’m also wondering where Apple sits in all this?

Meanwhile I’m just trying to be better than the copycats, maybe that’ll be enough to stay afloat?