EXTREMELY sorry about the scam apps!

expired_012

This is a very long story and I could go on and on about this and I was talking to barbarkco about this through email because he is sort of involved

When I first got my dev account and GS membership I didn't really want to pay $200 because i didn't know if i would make enough money to pay it back. So me and my friend both payed for half of it. Now here's the problem: since he payed the same amount as I did, that would mean that he would be able to make apps too. But the apps he makes are total SCAM apps!! First, he made 2 mirror apps, called mirror on the go, and mirror on the go HD. Then after barkbarkco made the handylight+ iPhone app and saw the success, he decided to make the same for iPad which is called handy flashlight+ HD. Not only that, but he completely copied BarkBarkCo's description!!! I don't want people thinking im a bad person because i have nothing tondo with the apps that he makes. He just comes to my house once in a while and spends 30 minutes making some fraud apps and then submits!! I always tell him it's wrong but then he goes on and on about how it's both of our accounts. Luckily he doesent have a GS username, we share it, but I would never let him write on here! He reads it only when he comes over.

The point is I'M SORRY, especially to barkbarkco. I will go into itunesconnect and change the description regardless of what he says because that is just wrong! He is leaving on vacation in the beginning of September so while he's out I might remove it from the store and tell him apple removed it because of complaints. Or I can buy the accounts from him, I'm sure he'll agree to that. I don't even bother to check the sales reports of his apps, i only check mine. Well please don't hate me everyone

BarkBarkCo

Arton,

I appreciate the post and your honesty.

I know that my app was kind of a copy to begin with, but this post should serve as a caution to other devs here, that this anonymous friend may not stop with copying my simple app. I think that info that is shared on the forum is in confidence and shouldn't be used like this. This is kind of sad for this community...

expired_012

It really is sad...

Hes not even acting like a real friend anymore, and im really hating him for this. I will definitely sort this out with him, and will take full ownership of the dev account. I just realized how much of a pushover I have been and not standing up for myself, im so sorry everyone...this community doesn't deserve this

IntelligentDesigner

Change the password, and pay him his share and that's the end of your problem.

Isn't it?

Rob2

exactly what has your friend copied?

expired_012

BarkBark's app HandyLight+

expired_012

@BarkBarkCo, and trust me i also know how you feel because the same happened to me as it did to you.

When I released Animal Sounds! HD, it went all the way up to #5 in education. Tilbo, who is here in the GS forums then made Angry Animal Sounds HD. Here are some screenshots to show you how similar they look

First, you can see how he copied my icon by making all of the animals come from different directions.

His icon:



My icon:



His home menu:



My home menu:



His animal page:



My animal page:



So its happening more often than we think Im really hating all of this and im really sad

chosenonestudios

I know you've made alot of money from doing this, but you can buy them from him...

Just curious how much money has he made with his scams?

BarkBarkCo

While it's impossible for Arton not to have access to the sales trends for his account, he stated in an email to me that he does not look at the sales for the "scam" apps...

butterbean

I remember seeing that app Angry Animal Sounds and thinking it looked like a bad replica of yours! Buy out his account, and don't let him on it anymore. If he wants to defame your account, and reputation, he can do it on his own, and with his own account.

You have to watch for your reputation in the App store, people will remember someone as the "Mirror App" developer or whatever app it is.

So my advice: Don't allow him to publish apps on your account anymore, pay him the other half of the membership, change your passwords, and be done with it.

And it is a lesson learned too... it's always best to NEVER go into business with a friend, even if you have known them for YEARS.

Money changes people, and your business ideals are clearly different than his.

Good luck, you're a great developer so keep your head up and keep up the good work, and seriously, don't let him use your account, and don't even ask him.

Just give him $100 dollars, and say this is my account now.

BarkBarkCo

@BB, the "Angry Animals" app wasn't his friend's creation, it was Tilbo's. Arton is just saying that he has dealt with the same thing before (someone copying his work)...

butterbean

Oh I see, I read that wrong, thanks for correcting me

expired_012

Thanks for the comments everyone. I already removed one of his scam apps and will remove more very soon, as i dont want to make it too obvious yet.

The only way he can publish apps is if he comes to my house and compiles and submits from my computer, and no way am i letting him do that anymore! You guys have made me realize what a horrible friend he is, and dont worry I am not going to be associating with him anymore.

@butterbean, I will simply buy the dev account from him regardless of the price. He is very selfish and even tho i am his friend he will probably charge me around $400. I feel horrible knowing that those apps are under my name that i really don't care what he's going to charge me. Trust me, the account will be mine very soon

@chosenonestudios, barkbarkco is right, i did not check the sales reports for those apps, I am way too disgusted to look.

butterbean

Well don't let him scam you. He shouldn't be charging as much as $400. Just give him $200 and tell him he can resubmit the apps himself, that's enough to purchase a dev account and express membership. You don't need someone like that tarnishing your reputation.

Glad the account will be yours, and don't let him push you over And he would never have been able to publish the apps had he not been using your computer to do so, so he shouldn't be charging more than $200 for you to remove the apps.

ozboybrian

WOW Can't believe people get away with that sort of thing..
I just started making games and am NOT going to copy anyone, originality sells! hope I do well