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Manomio then contacted Apple Europe in the UK and detailed what they were planning to accomplish and according to Manomio's CEO Brian Lyscarz, "Apple seemed rea

Manomio then contacted Apple Europe in the UK and detailed what they were planning to accomplish and according to Manomio's CEO Brian Lyscarz, "Apple seemed really excited" and so he felt safe that they would sanction the final app. With that assurance in hand, Manomio proceeded to secure the necessary licensing from individual publishers and finalize work on this major project. This was an incredibly stupid move on the developer's part. They "contacted Apple Europe" who "seemed excited" and they considered that an assurance worth spending money on developing the software and purchasing licenses? It almost sounds like they emailed someone they know at Apple about what they were planning on doing, who responded "Nice...sounds cool." It sure doesn't sound like due diligence or the kind of thing you'd do before spending tons of time and money on an app you may not be able to sell. An expensive mistake, but I don't feel bad for them.

prodigal_erik 17y ago
Is it even possible to get such an assurance from Apple? If they do approve apps which violate your plain reading of the ToS, and reject apps which don't even seem to, what can you do besides roll the dice or stay out of the market entirely?
- ryanwaggoner 17y ago
  Seems like you have four options: 1. Build apps that adhere to the TOS (they didn't) 2. Break the standard TOS, but get written assurances from Apple in advance (they didn't) 3. Avoid the market (they didn't) 4. Take the big risk and hope things work out OK. (they did) Obviously, #4 is a valid option...I just think it's a stupid one for a small company that can't afford to blow a year on something like this, but maybe they can. Regardless, how can you feel sorry for them? Also, it may seem that Apple approved apps which violate the TOS, but does this developer know that those other app developers didn't arrange this in advance with Apple? I have a hard time believing that a company like Sega would risk so much time and money developing apps without first talking to Apple and getting some clear assurance that they'd be allowed to sell it when they were done. Why couldn't this company have done the same?

prodigal_erik 17y ago

Is it even possible to get such an assurance from Apple? If they do approve apps which violate your plain reading of the ToS, and reject apps which don't even seem to, what can you do besides roll the dice or stay out of the market entirely?

ryanwaggoner 17y ago
Seems like you have four options: 1. Build apps that adhere to the TOS (they didn't) 2. Break the standard TOS, but get written assurances from Apple in advance (they didn't) 3. Avoid the market (they didn't) 4. Take the big risk and hope things work out OK. (they did) Obviously, #4 is a valid option...I just think it's a stupid one for a small company that can't afford to blow a year on something like this, but maybe they can. Regardless, how can you feel sorry for them? Also, it may seem that Apple approved apps which violate the TOS, but does this developer know that those other app developers didn't arrange this in advance with Apple? I have a hard time believing that a company like Sega would risk so much time and money developing apps without first talking to Apple and getting some clear assurance that they'd be allowed to sell it when they were done. Why couldn't this company have done the same?