The developer of the Amphetamine macOS app claims that Apple has threatened to pull him out of the Mac App Store for violating an app store guideline because of his name, even though Apple has offered it in the past.
Amphetamine dates back to 2014, an app used to keep your Mac awake, preventing macOS from sleeping.
The app has so far been offered via the Mac App Store for six years, but it seems that Apple itself may be preparing to remove it from the show altogether, because of its brand.
William Gustafson claims that an Apple representative contacted him on December 29 thru the threat of removing the app from the Mac app store.
Apple said the app violates its app store guidelines and will be deleted on January 12 unless changes to the app are made.
The guideline in question stipulates that applications that encourage the consumption of tobacco, e-cigarette products, illicit drugs or excess amounts of alcohol are not permitted in the App Store.
Applications that encourage minors to consume any of these substances are rejected, and it is not permitted to facilitate the sale of marijuana, tobacco or controlled substances except for licensed pharmacies.
Specifically, Apple claims that the app appears to promote inappropriate use of controlled substances, with the name and icon of the app containing references to controlled substances.
To avoid the violation, Gustafson must rename Amphetamine, a measure that would make it difficult for existing users to track the app for future updates.
This also ends any benefits from awareness of the existing brand, as this will not move to the new app title.
The timing of the rebranding request is intriguing, as the app has been in the Mac app store without a problem for six years.
The app achieved more than 432,800 downloads and 4.8 out of 5 in the American Mac App Store, and Apple promoted itself to the app in the Mac App Store story.
Gustafson believes that the app does not violate the guidelines, and wrote: I also think there are a lot of people who want to see Amphetamine continue to thrive without a complete renaming of the brand.
In all the communications That Gustafson has had with Apple employees over the past six years regarding the app, amphetamine's name or icon has not bothered any of them.
Gustafson also mentions how Amphetamine updates have been rejected in the past, but for more technical reasons than for the brand.
He adds: Apple pays attention when reviewing applications, and the name or icon of Amphetamine has not been once questioned, despite the 41 updates to the app sent to Apple for review.
An appeal against the charge of violating the guidelines has been filed with Apple, but the developer has little confidence in reversing Apple's course based on the appeal on its own.
If Apple continues its decision, Gustafson says he will either work on a new version of the app to return to the Mac App Store as soon as possible, or continue to raise awareness of Apple's actions and wait for a change of mind.
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