Intellectual Property Review Mechanism For App Distribution

How Onside reviews apps for intellectual property compliance in Japan before distribution, including submission requirements, manual screening, developer remediation, and ongoing enforcement.

Commitment To Intellectual Property Protection

At Onside, we are committed to protecting the intellectual property rights of Apple, app developers, rights holders, and other stakeholders. To support this commitment, we operate a structured manual intellectual property review process to evaluate apps for potential infringement prior to distribution through the Onside marketplace.

This mechanism is designed to prevent the distribution of apps that infringe copyrights, trademarks, patents, or other proprietary rights.

Onside is operated by Onside.io B.V.

Manual Pre-Distribution Intellectual Property Review Process

Before an app is made available on the marketplace, it undergoes a manual review focused on intellectual property compliance. The process includes the following steps:

1. Submission Requirements

Developers are required to submit comprehensive information as part of the app submission process, including:

• App description and functional overview

• App name, icons, screenshots, and promotional materials

• Declarations regarding ownership or lawful use of all content

• Supporting intellectual property documentation where applicable (e.g., licenses, trademarks, copyrights, patents)

Developers must also explicitly agree to Onside’s terms and conditions, confirming that their app does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.

2. Initial Intellectual Property Screening

Upon submission, Onside conducts an initial manual screening to identify obvious or high-risk intellectual property concerns. This screening includes:

• Review of app name, branding, and visual assets

• Detection of potentially unauthorized use of trademarks or copyrighted material

• Identification of impersonation or misleading representation of third-party brands or services

Apps with unresolved high-risk indicators may be rejected at this stage.

3. Detailed Intellectual Property Analysis

Apps that pass the initial screening may undergo a deeper manual analysis conducted by reviewers trained in intellectual property compliance. This analysis may include:

• Examination of app content, features, and user flows

• Comparison against known public trademark and copyright references

• Evaluation of originality claims provided by the developer

• Review of submitted licenses or permissions

Where appropriate, publicly available trademark, copyright, or patent databases may be consulted to assess potential conflicts.

4. Developer Communication And Remediation

If potential intellectual property issues are identified:

• The developer is notified of the specific concerns

• The developer may be asked to provide additional documentation, clarification, or licenses

• The developer may be required to modify app content, branding, or functionality

Apps remain unpublished until identified issues are adequately resolved.

5. Approval Or Rejection

• Apps that successfully resolve all identified intellectual property concerns may be approved for distribution

• Apps that fail to address intellectual property issues, or where infringement risk remains, are rejected

• Developers are informed of rejection decisions and the underlying reasons

Ongoing Monitoring And Enforcement

Intellectual property compliance is continuously enforced after publication. Onside maintains the following ongoing controls:

• Periodic Audits: Manual and automated reviews of published apps to identify new or emerging intellectual property risks

• Rights Holder And User Reporting: A reporting mechanism allowing rights holders, developers, and users to report suspected infringements

• Timely Enforcement Actions: Prompt investigation and, where necessary, suspension or removal of infringing apps

Developers are expected to maintain ongoing compliance throughout the lifecycle of their apps.

Contact Information For Intellectual Property Inquiries

For questions, notices, or complaints related to intellectual property matters, please contact:

Email: [e-mail]

Mailing Address:

Onside.io

Keizersgracht 555

1017 DR Amsterdam

The Netherlands