Anyone know what to do if someones stolen your games and selling them on the Apple Store?

cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
in Working with GS (Mac)
Hi all,

I've just noticed that someone has got hold of 2 of my games (that are no longer on the app store, but I'm in the process of updating) and are selling them as their own!!!! one game 'Box Boy' which they havent changed ANY of the graphics for, and 'Little Spooky' which they have changed the main character! do I report this to Apple, GameSalad, or just leave it? the developers name is Firoozeh Morady!!!

Ugh! what an A*hole!!!!!!! sorry to rant.

Cheers,
Chris
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Comments

  • SocksSocks London, UK.Member Posts: 12,822
    It's happended to a few people on here, T-ShirtBooth was amongst the victims, a couple of the culprits even used to post here on the forums.

    You need to report this to Apple.
  • cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
    Hey Socks, thank you for getting back to me - UGH - what a pain! some people are unbelievable! part of the fun it to make your own games, not somehow steal others - thank you for the advise, I'm not sure how to actually report this to Apple, but I will have a look into this (if I find anything I will post the link here for others).

    Cheers again,
    Chris
  • BBEnkBBEnk Member Posts: 1,764
    @sparkidr he also has Space Panda

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id463382249?mt=8&affId=2160376
  • cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
    Hey BBEnk, sorry to hear that :( I've just found a link that maybe of use http://support.google.com/bin/request.py?&product=androidmarket&contact_type=lr_dmca (this is for any stolen Android games, still looking into Apple though)
  • WingmanappsWingmanapps Member Posts: 458
    Go to iTunes Connect > Contact
    Contracts and legal > Rights infringements

    Fill out the form there and that should do it
  • WingmanappsWingmanapps Member Posts: 458
    edited March 2013
    Firoozeh Morady - has "bought" almost every deepblueapps template and published them without any change - Sad, So Sad

    There is also a forum link here where he is scamming people into buying his account
    http://iphonedevsdk.com/forum/shameless-advertising/99740-warning-mateen-apps-reza-pekan.html
  • cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
    hey Wingmanapps - thank you for this - and you're right, its really sad! I've always thought the idea of templates being that you can see how somethings done and then adapt / add it to 'your own' games - not basically ripping it off. Also, thank you for the link, I'm just about to fill it in. Cheers and thank you
  • cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
    right, all reported! thank you all for your help with this, I will let you know what the outcome it.

    Cheers,
    Chris
  • beefy_clyrobeefy_clyro Member Posts: 5,394
    Firoozeh Morady - has "bought" almost every deepblueapps template and published them without any change - Sad, So Sad

    There is also a forum link here where he is scamming people into buying his account
    http://iphonedevsdk.com/forum/shameless-advertising/99740-warning-mateen-apps-reza-pekan.html
    Jeez he's still up to all his shady dealings! Seriously hope he gets the book thrown at him one day!
  • ElfizmElfizm Member Posts: 489
    Well I have heard about him for a long time. Last I heard he was just a kid, so not sure how you would go with any legal issues if that's true.
  • SolarPepperStudiosSolarPepperStudios Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2013
    Well I guess I have to take back my comment on never seeing any trolls (He's more of a pirate) on the forums. Man, I feel sorry for ya man. This makes me want to re-think making one of my older games open-source... :(
  • cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
    well, hopefully they can at least take down all our apps and maybe (maybe) remove his account - well guys, lets keep our peepers out for others like this
  • SocksSocks London, UK.Member Posts: 12,822
    well, hopefully they can at least take down all our apps and maybe (maybe) remove his account - well guys, lets keep our peepers out for others like this
    I think Tshirtbooth's appeal to Apple was successful in that the games were removed and the account closed, but this guy (assuming it's the same one) just pops back up under a new name.

    I agree we should keep our eyes peeled for this kind of thing, maybe a dedicated thread would help focus all the info in one place ?
  • SolarPepperStudiosSolarPepperStudios Member Posts: 754
    @Socks That would be a good idea. Kind of like a neighborhood watch sort of deal. Also I think I found the video that inspired him to do his deeds of evil:
  • RUPASRUPAS Member Posts: 823
    incredible http://www.sellmyapplication.com/source-code/★-lot-of-10-games-★/
  • SolarPepperStudiosSolarPepperStudios Member Posts: 754
    @RUPAS Wow, just wow... Should we check the "bay of pirates" for anything GS related? :/
  • RUPASRUPAS Member Posts: 823
    edited March 2013
    click now http://www.sellmyapplication.com/source-code/★-lot-of-10-games-★/

    someone should beat a good campion this guy
  • SlickZeroSlickZero Houston, TexasMember, Sous Chef Posts: 2,870
    Good ol Mateen. Yes, he is a kid. He's got quite the bright future ahead of him, doesn't he? I blame the parents for his behavior.

    There's an adult behind all of this, probably his Dad. I could be wrong, he could be that Nigerian Prince we've all heard so much about.
  • TheGabfatherTheGabfather Member Posts: 633
    Anyone checked his Facebook page? Stinker, from the pic to the 'gangsta' statuses. No offense to possible good gangsta devs in the forums :) interesting to note typing 'gangsta' here produces no spell check warning..
  • Braydon_SFXBraydon_SFX Member, Sous Chef, Bowlboy Sidekick Posts: 9,273
    edited March 2013
    Haha what if he's reading this thread? ;) I'd give anything to see his face lol.

    Seriously, though, there's nothing funny about it. It's these kind of people that make me angry. We developers put a lot of work, sweat and tears (of joy, maybe?) into each game we push out. Having someone come and steal them, whether that's a template or any other game, is just plain wrong. What happened to his conscience? Taking the easy way has it's cost I guess, it'll come back to haunt him someday.

    Anyway, so sorry this happened to you, @cnmeyer1980. Maybe look at it a different way - Maybe he stole it because it was such a good game. :)

    Rant over. Move on.
  • Zenith_GameworksZenith_Gameworks Member Posts: 310
    People like Mateen have no place in this world. They give the American Dream a bad name and exploit others' knowledge and honest, hard work. The scum make my skin crawl. Ughh :-O
  • cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
    ha ha cheers @Braydon_SFX the good thing is, hes tried to do something with the code and completely messed the gameplay up - so - this is at least some kind of result - yep, out of interest I did download it - (which is stupid as I know I've basically given him some $$$) however I kinda wanted to see if he had put any contact info in the game, links ect... however, kinda pleased hes messed the gameplay up, he obviously doesnt know how to code, which, I suppose is something. Anyhow, great idea about setting up a thread where we can post pirated game links.

    Cheers all
    Chris
  • cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
    Hey @RUPAS, just had a look at your link http://www.sellmyapplication.com/source-code/★-lot-of-10-games-★/ and yep, the Ghost game is one of mine too (same graphics and everything along with a couple of DeepBlueApps games!!!!) - just going to report this to the sellmyapplication website. Thank you for the heads up
  • cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
    Hi guys,

    Result. The link below has now been removed from sale.

    http://www.sellmyapplication.com/source-code/★-lot-of-10-games-★/

    Power to GS development :-)
  • Supersonic9120Supersonic9120 Member, PRO Posts: 174
    Unfortunately this is happening on a larger scale with larger developers such as Zynga. Check out this article...

    http://www.valuewalk.com/2013/03/of-course-we-copied-it-says-zynga-inc-znga-vp/

    Ideas cannot be copy written or trademarked. Names of course can be trademarked and certain artwork, but overall a game concept is unfortunately free game.
  • jonmulcahyjonmulcahy Member, Sous Chef Posts: 10,408
    Hi guys,

    Result. The link below has now been removed from sale.

    http://www.sellmyapplication.com/source-code/★-lot-of-10-games-★/

    Power to GS development :-)
    yea i emailed them about it.
  • SpriteAttackSpriteAttack Member Posts: 524
    I had game art from old flash games (HeliAttack3 got ripped 3 times) stolen and turned into iOS titles. It takes some time for apple to reply but if you can state your case they usually take down the ripped/ stolen game.

    One thing they have not answered though is the matter sales from stolen games. I never saw a dime from the sales of those games.
  • ChakkuChakku Member Posts: 1,513
    edited March 2013
    I know that @RP took down a God of War ripoff by contacting Sony (INSTANT TAKEDOWN AFTER THAT :D )

    And I saw a Zombie Drop clone, and posted it here. @Socks tracked down who it was on the forums, and tshirtbooth had it removed from the App Store (that was not an instant takedown though)!

    Chakku
  • LowPriceMarketplace.comLowPriceMarketplace.com Member Posts: 46
    He is still on sellmyapplication.com with name Pekan Mateen

    http://www.sellmyapplication.com/source-code/complete-runner-source-code-with-graphics/

    http://www.sellmyapplication.com/author/mateenappstore/
  • cnmeyer1980cnmeyer1980 Member, PRO Posts: 211
    Hey @lowpricemarketplace.com you may have already done it, but ice just reported the above for you too. The guy at sellmyapplication.com is called Bill
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