What push notifications am I allowed to send?

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Level 1

5 points

What push notifications am I allowed to send?

How should the legal documents be interpreted?

"2.2. You may not use the APN for the purposes of advertising, product promotion, or direct marketing of any kind (e.g. up-selling, cross-selling, etc.), including, but not limited to, sending any messages to promote the use of Your Application or advertise the availability of new features or versions."

App Store Review Guidelines 5.6 says "Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind".

Following these rules, you're not allowed to send any push notifications since it would "promote the use of your application". This would also mean that most apps violate these rules; for example:

Deezer: "Hit play for endless music discovery with the Pop radio channel!"

Instaflash: "Got any underexposed photos that need fixing?"

since they promote the application and the use of it.

How do I know what push notifications I can send out without having my application removed from App Store?

Posted on Jul 17, 2013 6:37 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Keith Barkley

Level 6

19,718 points

Jul 17, 2013 7:09 AM in response to duett

My guess is that these are technically describing new features, so it is OK.

And, of course, the real answer to your question is "However Apple Interprets them, or, if you have deep pockets, how a judge inerprets them."

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Answer 2

duett Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 17, 2013 8:07 AM in response to Keith Barkley

... but you're not allowed to "advertise the availability of new features or versions.".

I just can't think of any push notification that wouldn't violate the terms... But I guess that if you technically describe old features it wouldn't violate the rule, but then again it would promote the use of the application.

What should be added is that I don't only need to follow Apple's rules, but also convince a legal team that we're allowed to do messages like the examples mentioned. Might be even more difficult.

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