App Store Reject

Guideline 5.2.1

Guideline 5.2.1 - Legal - Intellectual Property: Unauthorized FIFA Content

High RiskHardTypical Fix: 3-7 days1 Report
Also known as:The app includes FIFA trademarks and official tournament names without proper authorizationWe found unauthorized use of FIFA intellectual property including team names and logosThe app contains FIFA-related content that appears to infringe upon FIFA's rightsYour app uses FIFA branding elements without documented licensing agreementsThe app includes content that resembles FIFA without the necessary authorization

Our Take

Apple has flagged your app for containing content from a media organization and its brand without proper licensing authorization.


This rejection typically occurs when an app uses a media brand's trademarks, logos, official team names, player likenesses, or tournament names without permission. The review is likely human-triggered after detecting brand-related keywords, images, or branding elements.


Apple takes intellectual property violations seriously to avoid liability, so they require either documented authorization from the media brand or complete removal of the infringing content. The fastest compliant path depends on whether you have legitimate licensing rights - if not, you must rebrand completely to avoid associations.

Resolution Guide

01

Audit all FIFA references

Search your entire app, metadata, screenshots, and promotional materials for FIFA trademarks, official team names, tournament names, logos, and player likenesses.

02

Remove or replace infringing content

Replace media entity references with generic alternatives (e.g., "World Championship" instead of "FIFA World Cup", fictional team names instead of real ones).

03

Update app metadata

Revise app name, description, keywords, and screenshots to remove any brand associations or trademark references.

04

Rebrand visual elements

Replace any logos, colors, or design elements that could be confused with the branding with original designs.

05

Document your changes

Prepare a summary of all modifications made to demonstrate full compliance with intellectual property requirements.

06

Resubmit with clean slate

Submit the updated app version with all references completely removed and provide the change summary in App Review Information.


Prevention

  • Always verify licensing rights before using any sports organization's trademarks or official content
  • Use generic terminology and fictional names for sports-related apps
  • Consult with legal counsel when incorporating real-world sports content

    • Example Rejection Email

    From:Apple App Review Team
    Subject:Guideline 5.2.1 - Legal - Intellectual Property: Unauthori
    Guideline 5.2.1 - Legal - Intellectual Property Issue Description The app includes content that resembles FIFA without the necessary authorization. Specifically, we found references to FIFA tournaments, team names, and branding throughout the app without documented licensing agreements. Next Steps To resolve this issue, please attach documentary evidence of your FIFA licensing agreement and provide your FIFA contact information in the App Review Information section in App Store Connect. Once we have reviewed your documentation and confirmed its validity, we will proceed with the review of the app. Alternatively, please remove all FIFA-related content, trademarks, and references from the app and its metadata.

    Before & After

    Before — Rejected

    App titled 'FIFA Manager 2024' with official team logos and real player names throughout the interface.

    After — Approved

    App retitled 'Soccer Manager Pro' with fictional team names, custom logos, and generic player profiles.

    What changed: Complete rebranding removes all FIFA trademark associations while preserving the core football management gameplay.

    Before — Rejected

    App description mentioning 'Official FIFA World Cup tournament mode with authentic team rosters.'

    After — Approved

    App description stating 'International tournament mode featuring customizable teams and players.'

    What changed: Generic sports terminology avoids trademark infringement while describing similar functionality.

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