Apple steps back after the popular Mac app “amphetamine” was threatened with removal because of the brand

The popular Mac app “Amphetamine” will remain on the Mac App Store after being threatened with removal due to its name and brand, which Apple said violated the App Store guidelines.

Amphetamine is a free Mac application that helps users to keep the machine awake for a certain period of time. Launched in 2014, the app has been downloaded more than 432,000 times and is well rated on the ‌Mac App Store‌. The application was also presented by MacRumors in the past. After six years at the ‌Mac App Store‌, Apple suddenly decided that Amphetamine was in violation of the ‌App Store‌ Guidelines.

Amphetamine developer William Gustafson posted an extensive 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 were not made. for the application. The representative indicated that the amphetamine violated the following requirement:

Apps that encourage the consumption of tobacco and steam products, illegal drugs or excessive amounts of alcohol are not allowed on the ‌App Store‌. Applications that encourage minors to consume any of these substances will be rejected. Facilitating the sale of marijuana, tobacco or controlled substances (except for licensed pharmacies) is not allowed.

The Apple representative reportedly said, “Your application appears to promote the misuse of controlled substances. Specifically, your application’s name and icon 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, “speaking objectively”, amphetamine does not encourage amphetamine to be taken “irresponsibly, illegally or recreationally”.

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

Gustafson filed an appeal and mounted a Change.org petition that gathered more than 500 signatures in an effort to combat the complaint against the application. And recently, he announced on Twitter that he had ended a phone call with the App Review Board and that Amphetamine will remain on the ‌Mac App Store‌.

Amphetamine was promoted directly by Apple in a Mac App Store story and accumulated more than 1,400 reviews on the ‌Mac App Store‌, so it seems strange that the app was just being asked to change its brand now. In addition, Gustafson said he has had numerous interactions with Apple and its application review team regarding amphetamines, but the problem has never been raised before, so it is unclear what triggered it.