Apple and Google 'decline apps with 'Flappy' in title'
RHIANNON WILLIAMS – 17 FEBRUARY 2014
Apple and Google are reported to be rejecting new apps with the word 'Flappy' in the title, following a spate of copycat Flappy Bird games.
In the latest twist in the Flappy Bird saga, Vancouver- based games developed Ken Carpenter claims Apple rejected his Flappy Dragon app on the basis it "attempts to leverage a popular app".
Mr Carpenter, who has admitted he made the game to take advantage of people searching for the removed Flappy Bird, said his app "contains content that could be misleading to users, which is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines".
Although Flappy Bird is no longer available to download from Apple's App Store or Google Play following its creator's decision to remove it, several games containing the word Flappy are; including Flappy Bird Flyer and Flappy Bee.
Mr Carpenter, who has renamed his game Derpy Dragon, said the game had been rejected twice by Google Play and once by Apple.
“The first time I assumed it was because I included a phrase about ‘Flappy Dragon’ being the best flapping game to play now that ‘Flappy Bird’ is dead. My app was originally published with no issue and was online and searchable for a few hours,".
Following the app's removal, he said he received no Fair Warning email from Google, who referenced the 'spam' provision of Google Play terms
