Apple Threatens Cheating iOS Developers With License Removal
Rise in "bot farming" reportedly to blame.
Apple is coming down hard on iOS developers who cheat the App Store rankings system by artificially boosting user reviews and other statistics. The company issued a warning statement, threatening a removal of development rights to guilty parties.
"Once you build a great app, you want everyone to know about it," reads Apple's statement, found on its developer portal. "However, when you promote your app, you should avoid using services that advertise or guarantee top placement in App Store charts.
"Even if you are not personally engaged in manipulating App Store chart rankings or user reviews, employing services that do so on your behalf may result in the loss of your Apple Developer Program membership."
Pocket Gamer reports that the timing of the statement coincides with the rising popularity of "bot farming" services - companies that will offer to guarantee spots on the App Store's Top 25 rankings for thousands of dollars.
"Once you build a great app, you want everyone to know about it," reads Apple's statement, found on its developer portal. "However, when you promote your app, you should avoid using services that advertise or guarantee top placement in App Store charts.
"Even if you are not personally engaged in manipulating App Store chart rankings or user reviews, employing services that do so on your behalf may result in the loss of your Apple Developer Program membership."
Pocket Gamer reports that the timing of the statement coincides with the rising popularity of "bot farming" services - companies that will offer to guarantee spots on the App Store's Top 25 rankings for thousands of dollars.
Companies:
Apple
Read More Like This