Apple backtracks after the popular Mac applications “Amphetamine” threatened with elimination over branding

The popular Mac app “Amphetamine” will remain on the Mac App Store after it appears that it was threatened with the removal of its name and brand, which Apple said violated the rules of the App Store.

Amphetamine is a free Mac application that helps users keep their car awake for a certain period of time. Launched in 2014, the application has been downloaded over 432,000 times and is highly appreciated in the “Mac App Store”. The application was also presented by MacRumors in the past. After six years in the Mac App Store, Apple suddenly decided that Amphetamine was violating the “App Store” guidelines.

Amphetamine developer William Gustafson posted a comprehensive report on GitHub a few days ago, explaining that an Apple representative contacted him, saying that Amphetamine would be removed from the “Mac App Store” on January 12, 2021, if a series of changes was not made in the application. The representative indicated that Amphetamine had breached the following requirement:

Applications that encourage the use of tobacco and vapors, illegal drugs or excessive amounts of alcohol are not permitted in the “App Store”. Applications that encourage minors to consume any of these substances will be rejected. It is not allowed to facilitate the sale of marijuana, tobacco or controlled substances (except for authorized pharmacies).

The Apple representative said that “Your application seems to promote the misuse of controlled substances. Specifically, the name and icon of your application include references to controlled substances, pills ”.

Gustafson argued that amphetamine does not promote the use of illegal drugs because amphetamine is a legal, prescription drug in the United States. He also noted that “objectively speaking”, amphetamine does not encourage the administration of amphetamine “irresponsibly, illegally or recreationally.”

Just as amphetamine (the organic compound) can be used legally to keep people awake and alert, Amphetamine (the application) can be used legally to keep your poppy awake.

Gustafson appealed and set up a Change.org petition that garnered more than 500 signatures in an effort to combat the lawsuit. And recently, he announced on Twitter that he had ended a phone call with the App Review Board and that Amphetamine would remain on the “Mac App Store.”

Amphetamine was promoted directly by Apple in a Mac App Store story and garnered over 1,400 reviews on the “Mac App Store”, so it seems strange that the app was only asked to change its brand now. Moreover, Gustafson said he has had countless interactions with Apple and its amphetamine app review team, but the issue has never been raised before, so it’s not clear what triggered the issue.