Edward Kirk
October 10th, 2009, 07:59 PM
<div id="inlinead" class="inlinead"><IFRAME src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewHTML?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000" width="300" height="250" align="middle" frameborder=0 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0 scrolling=no><script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script></IFRAME></div><div class="nodecontent">A UK-based iPhone app developer has pointed out a largely unheard phenomenon in the App Store that is causing legitimate developers a lot of trouble: app name squatting. Like domain name squatting, a developer can register an app under a name to make sure nobody else can have it, without even releasing an actual app.<!--break-->
Atomic Antelope explained <a href="http://www.atomicantelope.com/news/" target="_blank">on their site</a> how an App Store name squatter had caused them trouble:
<blockquote>It turns out that squatters have moved into the app store. They’re worse than domain name squatters though, because you can’t even enter into negotiation with them. You don’t know who they are, or where they are. They take advantage of the fact that a developer can pretend to submit an app, but abandon their submission at the last moment, avoiding the need to actually create an application, but keeping hold of the app’s name. In limbo. Forever.</blockquote>
Atomic Antelope isn't alone, either. Justin Williams tells a similar story on <a href="http://carpeaqua.com/2009/04/11/appstore-stake-your-claim/" target="_blank">his blog</a>:
<blockquote>What I’ve learned from this ordeal is that iTunes Connect allows you to partially register your application name at any time during the development process. As long as you enter the name and fill in all the relevant fields with any sort of data, you can stake your claim on any given name. The key is the “Upload binary later” field.</blockquote>
The problem is self-perpetuating, as well, enticing legitimate developers to claim whatever app names they can before the squatters do. As Jmathews <a href="http://www.steamboatmountaindesigns.com/blog/2008/10/iphone-application-name-squatting.html" target="_blank">explains</a>:
<blockquote>This realization has lead me to grab dozens and dozens of good sounding applications names. Especially the ones for the two or three dozen application ideas we've kicked around. The problem with name squatting is that there is no visibility, the squatters, myself included, can't be propositioned for the access to the names.</blockquote>
[via <a href="http://recombu.com/news/app-friday-iphone-app-store-is-a-squatters-delight_M11134.html" target="_blank">Recombu</a>]</div>
Atomic Antelope explained <a href="http://www.atomicantelope.com/news/" target="_blank">on their site</a> how an App Store name squatter had caused them trouble:
<blockquote>It turns out that squatters have moved into the app store. They’re worse than domain name squatters though, because you can’t even enter into negotiation with them. You don’t know who they are, or where they are. They take advantage of the fact that a developer can pretend to submit an app, but abandon their submission at the last moment, avoiding the need to actually create an application, but keeping hold of the app’s name. In limbo. Forever.</blockquote>
Atomic Antelope isn't alone, either. Justin Williams tells a similar story on <a href="http://carpeaqua.com/2009/04/11/appstore-stake-your-claim/" target="_blank">his blog</a>:
<blockquote>What I’ve learned from this ordeal is that iTunes Connect allows you to partially register your application name at any time during the development process. As long as you enter the name and fill in all the relevant fields with any sort of data, you can stake your claim on any given name. The key is the “Upload binary later” field.</blockquote>
The problem is self-perpetuating, as well, enticing legitimate developers to claim whatever app names they can before the squatters do. As Jmathews <a href="http://www.steamboatmountaindesigns.com/blog/2008/10/iphone-application-name-squatting.html" target="_blank">explains</a>:
<blockquote>This realization has lead me to grab dozens and dozens of good sounding applications names. Especially the ones for the two or three dozen application ideas we've kicked around. The problem with name squatting is that there is no visibility, the squatters, myself included, can't be propositioned for the access to the names.</blockquote>
[via <a href="http://recombu.com/news/app-friday-iphone-app-store-is-a-squatters-delight_M11134.html" target="_blank">Recombu</a>]</div>