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How to Reply to a Rejection from Apple
How to Reply to a Rejection from Apple

If Apple rejects your app initially, you will need to reply and provide support your claim that you are the owner of the app's content

Cait Watson avatar
Written by Cait Watson
Updated over a week ago

If you receive a notice that Apple has rejected your submission, you'll likely see an email like this:

You will need to reply to Apple's rejection in their Resolution Center. You can either click the link in the email, or login to your App Store Connect account and click "View App Review Issues & Messages" below the app name.

Then click "Resolve" next to the affected version number:

Once you're in the Resolution Center, you'll see the rejection notice and explanation from Apple regarding their rejection. We see a few different rejection types. Please check below for suggested response based on Guidelines.

Guideline 5.2.3 Legal: Intellectual Property - Audio/Video Downloading

Your app contains content or features that may violate the rights of one or more third parties. Specifically, your app provides potentially unauthorized access to third-party audio or video streaming, catalogs, and discovery services. Your app and its contents should not infringe upon the rights of another party. In the event your app infringes another party’s rights, you are responsible for any liability to Apple because of a claim.

Next Steps

To resolve this issue, please attach documentary evidence in the App Review Information section in App Store Connect evidencing that you have all necessary rights or permissions to the third-party audio or video streaming, catalogs, and discovery services in your app.In accordance with section 3.2(f) of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, you acknowledge that submitting falsified or fraudulent documentation can result in the termination of your Apple Developer Program account and the removal of your apps from the App Store. Once Legal has reviewed your documentation and confirms its validity, we will proceed with the review of your app.

If you receive this kind of rejection, you will need to provide documentation of your station's broadcast license to Apple. You can attach the file as a PDF or similar format. You can attach your documents using the "Attach File" link below the reply box.

Guideline 4.2.6/ Guideline 5.2.1 Apple's standard practice for template-based apps:

Guideline 4.2.5 - Design - Commercialized Templates and App Generation Services

We noticed that your app appears to be created from an app generation service or a commercialized template, but it was not directly submitted by the owner or provider of the content within the app.

Guideline 5.2.1 - Legal - Intellectual Property

We noticed that your app was created from an app generation service or a commercialized template, but does not appear to be directly submitted by the owner or provider of the business, brand, or service.

Next Steps

To resolve this issue, this app must be submitted by the owner of the business or organization for which the app has been designed under its own Apple Developer Program account. Alternatively, you may provide documentation that shows your ownership of the business or organization for which the app is designed.

Please note that providing documentation of your rights to include third-party content within your app does not suffice.

If you receive this kind of rejection, you will need to let them know you are the station owner/content owner and provide any supporting documentation concerning your ownership of the station. You can attach your documents using the "Attach File" link below the reply box. Your app is submitted under the correct account, because this developer account belongs to you, the station, or the station's network.

When replying to Apple's Review Team, here are somethings to keep in mind

If you receive a message asking for more details about your apps intended audience like the list below, you can use our pointers as suggestions for your reply, but please make sure the information is specific to your station/application.

  • What is the purpose of this app? Answer: To provide a mobile app for the listeners of our station, giving them access to our station's stream, content, and community through the app. 

  • Who or what intended entity is the app being designed for? Answer: It is designed for our station's listeners.

  • Who is the target audience for this app? Answer: The intended audience is our station's listeners.

  • Is this app being designed for a financial or a government entity? Answer: No.

  • Do you represent a publishing, media, or newspaper group? Answer: I represent the radio station for which the app was designed.

Apple's review team are pretty quick to follow up when a reply has been submitted. Usually they answer within a few days. 


We cannot reply on your behalf, since this is your application and your account.
Please feel free to contact our Support Team if you have any questions.

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