Apple’s App Approval Process: Like Dealing with the Federal Government?

There have been many complaints about the Apple App approval process and how haphazard the decisions can be (to get a comprehensive understanding of software license agreements for apps, read here). TechCrunch notes:

We’ve seen dozens of apps that are approved the first time, but later rejected for a seemingly small update. And we’ve seen others that are rejected, make almost no change, yet get in the next time they’re submitted. It would seem the the life or death of an app is entirely in the hands of the App Store inspector who checks it out.

Apple’s App approval process reminds me of a similar application system: applying for a trademark registration from the US Patent and Trademark Office.  When I used to represent clients in prosecuting their applications, I really had little idea what would happen, as trademarks that should have sailed through according to the law were rejected, and others that were “on the fence” might go right through.  For WhichDraft.com, our recent application had been approved, but was then pulled and sat on a supervisor’s desk for 6 months.  They couldn’t give me a reasonable explanation why.

Echoing TechCrunch, it would seem that the life or death of a trademark application is entirely in the hands of the U.S. trademark examining attorney who checks it out.

It’s not a good sign when a for-profit corporation’s performance mimics the quality level of the federal government.

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