Am I allowed to use famous firearms brands in my App?

cbtcbt Member Posts: 644
edited December 2011 in Working with GS (Mac)
I previously sent an app about firearms manufacturers. It was an app explaining their products (like M16 or M1911 etc.).

It included photos of the guns, brand names (Colt, Beretta, CZ) etc. It got approved. But I wonder was it a simple mistake by them? I mean, If I send it again, will it be approved again? Or will it be rejected?

Because I think I shouldn't be able to use manufacturer names, photos.

What do you think? Will it be a problem?

(The thing is, I was working on renewing my old app for about 2 months now. It is near completion. I hope it gets approved.)

Comments

  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    if its informational then you should be fine. Where you will get in trouble is having a Character carrying a Heckler & Koch G36 might get you in trouble if you have not paid a license to use that specific make and model. but you could have an identical gun and have some off the wall name on it and call it an M-36 you would prob be in the clear. Im no lawyer though and to my knowledge no one else here is either. i'd suggest if you have a concern you consult a lawyer.
    Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
  • cbtcbt Member Posts: 644
    @tenrdrmer

    It is completely informational. I even tried to use those "®" signs where ever necessary. But I don't think I'm going to need a lawyer. If they reject it, I'll just be very sad. Nothing more.. :D

    Thanks.. I hope they approve it again...
  • cbtcbt Member Posts: 644
    @tenrdrmer

    It is completely informational. I even tried to use those "®" signs where ever necessary. But I don't think I'm going to need a lawyer. If they reject it, I'll just be very sad. Nothing more.. :D

    Thanks.. I hope they approve it again...
  • CloudsClouds Member Posts: 1,599
    Basically what tenrdrmer said.

    You are not selling guns nor competing in any way with a registered trademarked product, but offering opinion/review.

    No mistake, Apple know what they are doing, you are good to go.

    . . . .although I would say that using manufacturer photos (if actually produced by the manufacturer) might need clearing.
  • cbtcbt Member Posts: 644
    @tenrdrmer

    It is completely informational. I even tried to use those "®" signs where ever necessary. But I don't think I'm going to need a lawyer. If they reject it, I'll just be very sad. Nothing more.. :D

    Thanks.. I hope they approve it again...
  • JohnPapiomitisJohnPapiomitis Member Posts: 6,256
    edited December 2011
    basically everything tedrmer said. Also naturally any of the images of the guns you have you have to buy or take them yourself, you just cant pull them off google.

    Also to let you know that although apple will most of the time reject something with copyrighted material, there really not obligated to and hold no responsible of the repercussions.As you can see from just looking on the appstore theres tons of homemade soundboards and shovelware apps that have material that they have no right to use. So if they do approve somethign that has copyrighted material they wont be held responsible (you signed that in your dev aggreement) and youll be the one that the company goes after if they take action. Just cause they approved it does NOT mean your okay. If your using copyrighted and or trademarked material and brand names ect just cause they approved it doesnt mean you can use it. So yes you can have something accepted one tiime then reject the same thign a different time if they have a differnt reviewer thats paying closer attention.

    Take cod as an example. They have permission to call a gun a acr and have the remington logo on it.

    Its actually pretty simple, if you dont have permission to use the names, dont. If you didnt buy the images or take them yourself of friends firearms ect dont use them. The real issue isnt if apple will approve or not, its if you have permission to use such material.

  • cbtcbt Member Posts: 644
    Wow, did I just post the same thing 10 times?

    What is wrong with the forums today? I did not even click "Post Comment" multiple times.


    @JohnPapiomitis
    "If you didnt buy the images or take them yourself of friends firearms ect dont use them."
    That is almost impossible in some cases.
    Some anniversary pistols were only produced in really low quantities. (Some are even 10). There is almost no chance anyone taking their photos themselves.

    And there won't be any photos of them except the photos official website provides. And those photos are used in blogs, magazines etc.
    Now, did they buy the rights of those photos, were they not copyrighted or simply the company doesn't care..
    I think the 3rd option. You are right of course, "on paper" I shouldn't use any photos I do not own but I don't think Glock will sue me or even ask me to remove my app for using photos from their gun catalog.

    I just hope the app passes Apple's inspection. I don't even worry about gun companies.
  • JohnPapiomitisJohnPapiomitis Member Posts: 6,256
    edited December 2011
    All photos used in magazines blogs ect have permission to use them, are using open domain images, or jsut dont care about using material they shoulnt be using.

    If you didnt buy the images or have the rights to use the images you cannot use them end of story. If its impossible for you to buy images or get permission then you should work on something.

    You cannot use copyrighted material.

  • cbtcbt Member Posts: 644
    You know I said exactly what you said, but added "on paper" at the beginning... Right?
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