Finding a visually similar app can be frustrating. Before making a claim, separate familiar design conventions from the parts of your app that are original to you. In the United States, the Copyright Office explains that copyright can protect original expression, while ideas, systems, and methods of operation are not protected as such. Rules vary by jurisdiction and claim type.

Capture the listing while it is available

  1. Save the exact App Store URLs for your app and the candidate, including country or region.
  2. Record the app titles, developer names, and the date you captured each listing.
  3. Save the relevant screenshots and, if useful, a recording of the same flow in both apps.
  4. List the specific copied elements: artwork, text, icons, screen composition, or other concrete details. Note the shared genre conventions separately.
  5. Keep proof of your own creation and publication dates where available.

Review the claim before sending it

A match score is a sorting aid, not a legal conclusion. Compare the complete experiences, versions, and context. Our court case studies show why a ruling usually depends on much more than one similar screen.

Use Apple’s official dispute form

Apple’s App Store dispute form is the official route for an intellectual property claim about App Store content. Apple says the form asks for contact details, identification and description of the alleged infringement, and a representation under penalty of perjury that the filer is the rights holder or authorized representative. Review what you submit carefully. Apple typically responds by email with a reference number.

Copycat Checks helps you organize a review and export evidence. It does not determine infringement or submit the complaint for you.