Apple Is Rejecting Applications that Use the Dropbox SDK

According to a support thread in the Dropbox forums, developers have been having their latest applications or updates denied by Apple. Why? Because the new SDK allows users to create a Dropbox account if they don’t already have one.

The issue was first reported on Friday by “Goran Daemon P.” in a message stating that Apple rejected his application because it included a link to the Dropbox webpage. Dropbox engineer Brian Smith responded by posting a patched SDK that he believed would solve the issue.

It hasn’t.

Recent posts show that the problem persists, and Goran was able to provide a screenshot of Apple’s rejection notice that you can view below. (Click for full version.)

Straight from the lion’s mouth: “We found that your app provides access to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the app… Specifically, this app contains a link that takes the user to Dropbox via Safari.”

The SDK that Smith posted removes the option to create an account from the login screen, but Daniel M. points out that the option to create an account reappears if a user enters incorrect login credentials or attempts to proceed without filling out any information.

Smith says that Dropbox is currently working on a better solution, and Dropbox will have “more to share about that next week.”

Apple’s restriction against applications selling items without utilizing in-app purchases has been in effect for some time. The move initially drew criticism from Apple users and led to Amazon’s Kindle app removing links to the online Kindle store. As Richard P. points out in the thread, Apple’s policy hasn’t changed and Dropbox has either changed the SDK or flew under Apple’s radar until this point.

source