No impersonation — name and icon don't mimic existing apps

Apple Guideline 4.1 (Impersonation) and Google Play's Impersonation Policy both classify confusingly similar names or icon designs as grounds for immediate rejection. Beyond rejection, trademark holders (Spotify AB, Meta Platforms, Block Inc.) routinely file intellectual property claims against infringing apps through Apple's and Google's dispute processes, which can result in forced removal, developer account termination, and civil litigation under Lanham Act §32. A bundle ID containing a competitor's name (e.g., com.dev.uberclone) is discoverable by the trademark holder in App Store search and accelerates claim filing.

Before finalizing the app name, search both app stores for the exact name and phonetically similar variants. Remove all third-party trademarks from the name, bundle ID, and icon:

# Check current app name across metadata sources
grep -r 'app_name\|expo.name\|"name"' app.json android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml

If building a legitimate integration (a Shopify store manager, a Stripe dashboard), use the brand's official partner naming guidelines — typically requiring your brand name to lead ('Acme for Shopify', not 'Shopify Manager by Acme'). Update app.json, fastlane/metadata/, and android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml consistently so the name is identical across all submission surfaces.

• ID: no-impersonation
• Severity: critical
• What to look for: Read the app name from fastlane/metadata/ios/<locale>/name.txt, fastlane/metadata/android/<locale>/title.txt, app.json (expo.name), pubspec.yaml (name), or android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml (app_name). Evaluate whether the name is: (a) confusingly similar to a well-known app (e.g., "Spotifi", "lnstagram", "PayPaI" with a capital i instead of l), (b) includes a trademarked brand name without authorization (e.g., "Netflix Helper", "Uber Clone", "Facebook Companion"), (c) uses a famous brand name as a descriptor ("the WhatsApp of X", "Instagram for Y" in the actual app name). For the icon, assess whether the design closely mimics a well-known app's icon in color scheme, shape, or symbol. This check requires judgment — a blue rounded-square icon is not impersonation, but a green speech-bubble that mimics WhatsApp's logo pattern is. Also flag bundle IDs that contain trademarked names not owned by the developer (e.g., com.myapp.instagramclone). Count all instances found and enumerate each.
• Pass criteria: The app name is distinct and original. No trademarked brand names in the name or bundle ID without clear authorization. The icon design is not a close visual mimicry of a well-known app's icon. At least 1 implementation must be confirmed.
• Fail criteria: App name is confusingly similar to a well-known brand (near-identical with minor character substitution); app name contains a third-party trademark without authorization; bundle ID contains a competing app's name; icon is a close visual copy of a well-known app's icon.
• Skip (N/A) when: App name and icon cannot be determined from the repository (no metadata files, no app.json, no string resources).
• Detail on fail: "App name 'Spotifi' in fastlane/metadata/ios/en-US/name.txt is confusingly similar to 'Spotify' trademark" or "Bundle ID 'com.dev.uberclone' contains competitor trademark".
• Remediation: Impersonation causes immediate rejection and potential legal action from the trademark holder.
  1. Choose an original app name that is clearly distinct from any existing app or brand
  2. Search the App Store and Google Play for your chosen name before finalizing it
  3. Remove any third-party brand names from the app name, bundle ID, and icon design
  4. If building a companion or integration app (e.g., a Shopify store manager), use the brand's official naming guidelines and check their developer agreements Keep app name and branding assets in src/assets/ and app.json or package.json. Review against existing apps before submission.