iGBA It was one of the first, if not the first retro game emulator app for the iPhone, but just days after Apple approved it, it was pushed out.
Updated, 20:03:
Above MacRumors, Apple explained what happened and what is the legal use of emulator apps in the App Store. First, the company confirms that iGBA was removed because the old app was a clone of GBA4iOS. One important clarification regarding the upcoming apps is that emulators are allowed to load ROMs downloaded from the web, as long as the app only emulates old console games.
Apple also confirms that it has approved the iGBA function, mao. These are apps that you've agreed to load, but Nintendo makes no reservations about whether or not to retrofit, writing in its guidelines that “pirated copies of game files are often referred to as 'ROMs'.” Uploading and downloading pirated copies of Nintendo games is illegal.
Nintendo also clarifies that it is also illegal to download old games and that emulation is illegal:
“No, the availability of a game in stores has nothing to do with its copyright status. A copyright does not enter the public domain simply because it is no longer commercially exploited or generally available. Therefore, copyright on games remains valid even if they are not Find games on store shelves, and using, copying and/or distributing these games is a violation of copyright.
Although we recognize players' passion for classic games, emulation also supports illegal piracy of our products. Wherever possible, Nintendo and its licensors try to find ways to bring legitimate classics to existing systems (via “Virtual Console titles, for example).”
Why was it approved?
That the app was approved in the first place is strange, because it was a copy of the open-source Game Boy Advance app GBA4iOS that had long been available outside of Apple's ecosystem. The developer, Testut, didn't realize much over the weekend either. On Threads, the person in question couldn't understand why the app was approved, and was probably annoyed that it was rising to the top of the charts with both ads and tracking. “I'm so glad app review exists to protect customers from scams and theft like this,” he wrote sarcastically on Mark Zuckerberg's social network.
The app has been removed by Apple due to spam and copyright. Regarding the rules for dealing with spam, 4.3Apple advises: “Do not create multiple bundle IDs for the same app. If your app has different versions for specific sites, sports teams, universities, etc., consider submitting a single app and defining variants using in-app purchase.”
Nintendo may have contacted you
Now it comes to the point 5.2 Which deals with copyright, Apple says to “ensure that your app only contains content that you created or that you have a license to use. Your app may be removed if you go out of bounds and use the content without permission. Of course, this also means that other people's apps can be removed.” If they “borrowed” your work. If you believe another developer on the App Store has infringed your intellectual property rights, submit a claim via our online form. Laws vary across countries and regions, but at least be sure to avoid the following common mistakes.
The question remains: Did Apple remove the application because it was a copy of another application, or did they contact them from Nintendo, which we know strongly fights piracy? We don't know, but it could be a combination.
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