Phil Schiller on App Store Knockoffs in 2012: ‘Is No One Reviewing These Apps?’

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Phil Schiller, 2015:
” [this scam app] is a terrific example of the things we must have automated tools to kick and discover out of the store. I cant think we still do not.” …” and PLEASE develop a system to automatically find low rated apps and purge them !!” pic.twitter.com/fhFvja7vXs
— Jacob Terry (@jerkob) May 5, 2021
Scam iOS apps that defraud users and simulate real apps continue to be a problem to this day. In recent months, designer Kosta Eleftheriou has taken to speaking out versus rip-off apps and highlighting noteworthy scams in the App Store, bringing additional attention to the concern.

Knockoff apps have long been an issue in the App Store, with scam apps slipping past customers to take on real apps and steal sales, and back in 2012, Apples Phil Schiller was absolutely furious when a fake app made it to the top of the App Store rankings, according to files shared in the Epic v. Apple trial.
At the time, Temple Run was a very popular iOS special title, and in February 2012, a phony variation of Temple Run hit the App Store charts. Schiller sent out an e-mail to Eddy Cue, Greg Joswiak, Ron Okamoto, Phillip Shoemaker, Matt Fischer, Kevin Saul, and others on the App Store group.
” Is nobody examining these apps? Is nobody minding the shop?” he ranted on, prior to asking whether people kept in mind a discuss becoming the “Nordstrom” of App Stores in quality of service.

Phil Schiller in 2012, after a rip-off app hit # 1: “What the hell is this?????
… Is no one examining these Apps? Is no one minding the shop?” pic.twitter.com/pNaozl6hv1
— Patrick McGee (@PatrickMcGee_) May 3, 2021
Since that 2012 rant, App Store reviewers have actually continued to battle with knockoff apps that imitate real apps. A second file highlighted Minecraft knockoffs that had actually made it into the App Store not when, however twice, and was consuming Minecraft sales, and in a 3rd 2015 document, Schiller remarks that he “cant think” that Apple doesnt have automatic tools to find and kick out rip-off apps.

At the time, Temple Run was a very popular iOS special title, and in February 2012, a fake version of Temple Run struck the App Store charts. Schiller sent out an e-mail to Eddy Cue, Greg Joswiak, Ron Okamoto, Phillip Shoemaker, Matt Fischer, Kevin Saul, and others on the App Store team. “How does an obvious rip off of the very popular Temple Run, with no screenshots, garbage marketing text, and almost all 1-star ratings end up being the # 1 totally free app on the store?”
Phil Schiller in 2012, after a rip-off app struck # 1: “What the hell is this?????
… Is no one reviewing examining Apps?