‘Amphetamine’ app to stay in Apple App Store

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Apple told a developer of the “Amphetamine” Mac app that their software violated the company’s App Store Guidelines due to a drug reference in its name.

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This sudden takedown notice happened despite the app having been on the store for some six years and “Amphetamine” having been actively promoted by Apple itself. Only a few days later, Apple reversed its decision.

William C. Gustafson, the developer behind the Amphetamine app (which allows Mac computers to avoid going into sleep mode) said he received a call from Apple asking him to remove the application.

“Apple called me a few days ago and informed me that I have 2 weeks to completely remove all references to the word “amphetamine” and remove the pill from the icon, else Apple will remove Amphetamine from the Mac App Store on 1/12/21”, Gustafson claimed on Reddit.

Such an alert was strange as the free Amphetamine app had been featured by Apple in a Mac App Store Story , and had been downloaded nearly half a million times prior to Apple’s message.

Apple’s App Store guidelines state that: Apps that encourage consumption of tobacco or vape products, illegal drugs, or excessive amounts of alcohol are not permitted on the App Store. Apps that encourage minors to consume any of these substances will be rejected. Facilitating the sale of marijuana, tobacco, or controlled substances (except for licensed pharmacies) isn’t allowed.”

“I specifically asked Apple on the phone if this was a result of customer complaints and Apple’s response was ‘I don’t think so,’” Gustafson also told The Verge. “I found it odd that this issue came up out of nowhere. I wasn’t in the middle of trying to update Amphetamine or anything. Just sitting at home with my kids enjoying our holiday and got the violation/rejection email from Apple.”

The smartphone giant contacted Gustafson on 29 December 2020, but by 2 January 2021 Apple had reconsidered its decision.

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