Short answer
Find every place the other brand appears: the app name, subtitle, icon, screenshots, keywords and in-app screens. Replace it with your own name and art, or attach written permission from the owner in App Review notes. Then resubmit and reply with what changed.
Rather not fix it yourself? App Fix Ticket starts with a fixed-price diagnosis, then a fixed price for the fix before any fix work.
What triggers 5.2.1, and the fix
01
Another brand is in the name or icon
“Don’t use protected third-party material such as trademarks, copyrighted works, or patented ideas in your app without permission” Apple, Guideline 5.2.1
A name like “Chat for Instagram” or an icon that copies a known logo uses someone else’s trademark. Pick your own name and artwork.
02
The listing looks like someone else’s app
“and don’t include misleading, false, or copycat representations, names, or metadata in your app bundle or developer name.” Apple, Guideline 5.2.1
Copying another app’s name, screenshots or description makes the listing misleading. Rewrite the metadata so users can tell your app apart.
03
The wrong account submitted the app
“Apps should be submitted by the person or legal entity that owns or has licensed the intellectual property and other relevant rights.” Apple, Guideline 5.2.1
An agency or freelancer submitting a client’s branded app under their own developer account can trigger 5.2.1 if Apple can’t see a license. Add proof of the license in the review notes, or submit from the brand owner’s account.
04
The app shows content from another service
“ensure that you are specifically permitted to do so under the service’s terms of use.” Apple, Guideline 5.2.2
Video, music or data pulled from another platform needs that platform’s permission. Check its terms, and be ready to show App Review the permission, which Apple can ask for.
Checked against the vendor’s docs on : App Store Review Guidelines: 5.2 Intellectual Property; Apple: App Review (replying and appeals).
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Resubmit before Apple’s holiday slowdown
Pay for the Diagnosis and send the rejection and access to the app by (US Eastern). The Diagnosis is back by . Pay for the Fix that day and it arrives as a pull request by , in time to build and resubmit before .
In past years Apple said reviews may take longer around the holidays: December 20 to 26 in 2024 (opens in a new tab), December 22 to 27 in 2023 (opens in a new tab), December 23 to 27 in 2022 (opens in a new tab). Apple hasn’t posted its 2026 dates yet (checked ). Approval stays Apple’s decision.
“Very responsive, attentive to fixing bugs, and completed the project as needed! Thank you!”
Related: App Store Guideline 4.3 (spam) · App Store Guideline 2.3 · App Store Guideline 1.5 · App Store Guideline 2.5.1