TV Time, a popular entertainment tracking app with over 30 million registered users, recently faced an unexpected removal from Apple's App Store, sparking concerns about the tech giant's influence over app developers.
The app, which serves 2.5 million monthly active users tracking their TV and movie watching habits, vanished from the App Store for several weeks in November. Users utilize the platform to engage with other fans, comment on episodes, vote on characters, and share media content.
The removal stemmed from a dispute over intellectual property rights. According to Whip Media Chief Marketing Officer Jerry Inman, the issue arose when users uploaded TV and film cover art, leading to a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaint. Despite TV Time's compliance with removing the contested images and requesting proof of ownership from the complainant, the situation escalated when the complainant demanded an unauthorized financial settlement.
When TV Time refused to pay, the complainant reported the claim as "unresolved" to Apple, resulting in the app's removal. During this period, existing iOS users could still access the app, but new downloads and updates were blocked.
"Apple controls access to a massive market and acted on a complaint without requiring robust evidence from the complainant," Inman told TechCrunch, highlighting concerns about Apple's authority over app developers.
The app has since returned to the App Store after resolving the matter with the complainant. While Apple declined to comment directly, they referenced their App Store Content Dispute website, which outlines their process for handling copyright and trademark claims.
TV Time, acquired by Whip Media Group in 2016, continues to operate on Android and web platforms. Since 2017, the app has accumulated 7.4 million iOS installations, demonstrating its substantial user base across platforms.
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