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WhatsApp / stickers

This repository contains the iOS and Android sample apps and API for creating third party sticker packs for WhatsApp.
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Android | iOs - How to get a license from WhatsApp? #279

Closed sdergachev closed 5 years ago

sdergachev commented 5 years ago

How to get a license to use the name WhatsApp, necessary for the application to work with stickers?

Hi.

Like many others, цe received a letter from Google which is said that our application «WhatsApp Stickers – Wachanga» has been removed from Google Play – «REASON FOR SUSPENSION: Alleged trademark infringement». Google also said that the reason for this decision was a complaint:

From Alexis Meghrouni Rivas Director, Enforcement Strategies and Services, WhatsApp enf.whatsapp.18186@enfappdetex.com <…> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wachanga.stickers The app uses the trademarks, banners, badges and logos of WhatsApp without authorization.

We want to assure that we did not intend to violate the rights and interests of WhatsApp or other companies. On the contrary, our application is designed to increase the popularity of the messenger and separately a new function among its users. In developing our product, we were inspired by and used an official guide - https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/26000226.

We studied all documents, including everything at https://whatsappbrand.com/, sent many letters to all available addresses (including brand@whatsapp.com). But it took a long time, but did not receive an answer.

We ask you to give permission to use the trademarks, banners, badges and logos of WhatsApp in our Android and iOS Apps – in order to Google could restore our application, and to avoid any problems with Apple Store, when we release the same application on iOS.

How to get it? What god to pray?

alex193a commented 5 years ago

WhatsApp doesn't allow the use of their name and they won't give the permission to use it. Like many other apps your app won't be restored, unfortunately.

Also, at the moment the Apple App Store has removed almost all of the stickers app for WhatsApp and it reject all the new apps because they are considered spam, so it's useless to release the app on iOS.

sdergachev commented 5 years ago

@simonzhexu

simonzhexu commented 5 years ago

For your Android app, please don't use WhatsApp in your app name. You are allowed to use WhatsApp in the description. And make sure you put WAStickerApps in your description. This will help your app show up in Play Search.

For iOS, it is a different story, we are working with Apple. Our current suggestion is for you to build a very different UI from the sample app. You may also include additional functionality. Otherwise, Apple would not allow your app to be published. Sorry about that. But we are figuring this out.

lemiapps commented 5 years ago

Hi, We have the same issue on Google Play with our WhatsApp Auto Reply, package name com.lemi.whatsappautoreply. Have you succeed to solve the issue? Google wrote “You may contact WhatsApp at gp.enforcements.prod@gmail.com. If WhatsApp contacts us specifically authorizing your app to be re-published”

We tried a couple of time to contact Alexis at gp.enforcements.prod@gmail.com and enf.whatsapp.51081@enfappdetex.com

Unfortunately, we got no answer.

nguyencongbinh commented 1 year ago

For your Android app, please don't use WhatsApp in your app name. You are allowed to use WhatsApp in the description. And make sure you put WAStickerApps in your description. This will help your app show up in Play Search.

For iOS, it is a different story, we are working with Apple. Our current suggestion is for you to build a very different UI from the sample app. You may also include additional functionality. Otherwise, Apple would not allow your app to be published. Sorry about that. But we are figuring this out.

Hello Simon, @simonzhexu Can I use WA on my app title name like "Auto Reply for WA"? Thank you.

lemiapps commented 1 year ago

For your Android app, please don't use WhatsApp in your app name. You are allowed to use WhatsApp in the description. And make sure you put WAStickerApps in your description. This will help your app show up in Play Search.

For iOS, it is a different story, we are working with Apple. Our current suggestion is for you to build a very different UI from the sample app. You may also include additional functionality. Otherwise, Apple would not allow your app to be published. Sorry about that. But we are figuring this out.

@simonzhexu on Google Play AutoResponder for WhatsApp https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tkstudio.autoresponderforwa&hl=en Auto Reply for WA was removed

nguyencongbinh commented 1 year ago

@lemiapps How the app "AutoResponder for WhatsApp" is allowed but your app "Auto Reply for WA" was removed? How long your app was removed since received email from Google?

lemiapps commented 1 year ago

Same moment reply from WhatsApp: While we appreciate that you wish to, or may have modified your app, we don’t review or consent to republication of apps. Please carefully review and comply with the policies and guidelines published by WhatsApp and Google Play Below is a partial list of examples from our guidelines that illustrate a few common issues with developers' apps. As noted above, please review the complete WhatsApp guidelines and terms of service and ensure your app complies with all of them as well as the app store’s guidelines.

nguyencongbinh commented 1 year ago

@lemiapps , thank you for your info. As I read above, It looks like you named the app is "WhatsApp Auto Reply", not "Auto Reply for WA", isn't it?

How many times they/Google alerted your before your app was get removed? Did they give you a chance to update your app to comply the trademark policy?

lemiapps commented 1 year ago

no We tried 2 names Auto Reply for WA Whats Auto Reply Both removed The title of your app cannot include the name WhatsApp or any variation, phonetic equivalent, foreign language equivalent, takeoff, or abbreviation No alerts - Just removed - no chance to update Your app has been suspended and removed due to alleged trademark infringement.

nguyencongbinh commented 1 year ago

@lemiapps Thank you for your answer and info provided. I also don't understand why some app still using "WhatsApp" or "WA" in app title without violating trademark policy. To not take the risk, I decide to removed the "WA" text in my app title.

moodeezz commented 6 months ago

بالنسبة لتطبيق Android الخاص بك، يرجى عدم استخدام WhatsApp في اسم التطبيق الخاص بك. يُسمح لك باستخدام WhatsApp في الوصف. وتأكد من وضع WAStickerApps في الوصف الخاص بك. سيساعد هذا في ظهور تطبيقك في بحث Play. أما بالنسبة لنظام التشغيل iOS، فالأمر مختلف، فنحن نعمل مع شركة Apple. اقتراحنا الحالي هو أن تقوم بإنشاء واجهة مستخدم مختلفة تمامًا عن نموذج التطبيق. يمكنك أيضًا تضمين وظائف إضافية. وإلا فلن تسمح Apple بنشر تطبيقك. اسف بشأن ذلك. لكننا نكتشف ذلك.

@simonzhexu على Google Play AutoResponder لـ WhatsApp https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tkstudio.autoresponderforwa&hl=en تمت إزالة الرد التلقائي لـ WA

I see that you have restored your application. Can you help me or tell me how to restore it?