In an unusual move, Apple has removed 1,000 applications sold by Chinese developer Molinker from its App Store. The mass purge follows questions whether the developer had ‘gamed’ the popular iPhone online store. Along with the apps – which amounted to one percent of those sold through the App Store, ratings were also deleted.
“This developer’s apps have been removed from the App Store and their ratings no longer appear either,” Apple marketing head Phil Schiller confirmed to iPhoneography, a blog that originally asked whether a scam might have been afoot.
The apps posted by the developer apparently were copies of existing applications, however they consistently received five-star ratings. One application, ColorMagic, was even picked as an App Store Staff Favorite. However, iPhoneography suggested the developer may have handed out free promo codes in exchange for favorable reviews.
Still uncertain is how Molinker customers will be compensated and how Apple will prevent future attempts to scam the very profitable App Store.
[Via Gadget Lab, iPhoneography and Gizmodo]
