In what looks like a stealthy phaser strike from CBS Studios, several wildly popular Star Trek themed Tricorder apps have been pulled down from the App Store after the company cited copyright infringement in communications with Apple .
What's interesting is that at least two of the Tricorder apps targeted by CBS contain no visible Star Trek markings or logos whatsoever. In fact, the only Star Trek applications that remain in the App Store are Paramount Entertainment's lame shooter game "Star Trek Phaser", which is little more than shameless marketing for the upcoming Star Trek movie and two "Star Trek: Countdown" comics from iVerse Media. Paramount's Phaser app is a real misfire that boldly goes where no shameless movie promo has gone before.
One developer Matthias Schorer, from Munich, Germany who created Tricorder TR-580 for iPhone centered around his love for Star Trek's Next Generation, is crying foul on the actions of CBS. Schorer is convinced that CBS Studios attacked his Tri Corder app in order to dominate the App Store with only official Star Trek products prior to the release of their new film directed by J.J. Abrams.
"It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen," Matthias Schorer told the iPhone Savior during a brief phone interview, "It causes a real loss of faith in Apple as an iPhone developer if your app can be taken down at any time."
Tricorder TR-580 ($.99) went live in the App Store back in September of 2008 and was a top seller for Schorer who has released three other iPhone apps under his Javaworks banner, including dBMeter Pro.
Amazingly, less than one month into his Tricorder debut, Schorer was contacted by Andy Tudor, Lead Designer on the upcoming "Need For Speed: SHIFT" title from Electronic Arts. Tudor volunteered his services to upgrade the graphics on Tricorder TR-580 free of charge, citing his own love for all things Star Trek. An unexpected gift that gave Schorer's iPhone brainchild a significant design boost.
Near the end of February 2009, while Matthias was busy developing the third update for his Tricorder app, he received an email from Apple indicating that CBS called his work into question.
"We received a written notice from CBS that CBS believes your application named Tricorder TR-580 infringes CBS's rights. Accordingly, please take steps to review your application to ensure that it does not violate the rights of another party." Apple wrote in an email.
Two other developers with Tricorder apps active in the App store including iScanner (video) by Adam McElhaney (Exohive) and Commander Rob's Tri Corder were also recently served with the same tragic communication from Apple. All Tricorder apps have since been pulled from the store, becoming clear that CBS was successful in making a clean sweep of any competition. Keenly shrouding a dubious scheme in legalese, forcing Apple and developers into a Catch-22.
While we're left only to speculate on the true intentions of the media giant attempting to protect their Star Trek franchise, it's unfortunate that the official Star Trek Phaser app remains as a pathetic reminder of what designing by committee can look like. CBS has successfully crushed the independent spirit of a few passionate iPhone developers expressing their epic man love for the Star Trek series in way that truly honors its legacy. After several emails dating back over a month now, Matthias has received zero correspondence from CBS addressing his inquiries as to what specifically in his app infringes on their copyright.
"I know there's a lot of people out there who want to get this app because I get emails from them constantly. It was a weekend project, I spent around one hundred hours on it. This is just annoying." Schorer said.
As the App Store evolves into a new stomping ground for brand driven corporate marketers, independent developers with fresh ideas like Matthias Schorer, may quickly become the sacrificial lambs of progress. Does Apple really care about that? It may be too to early to tell, but it's possible that we're all currently enjoying what will be referred to as the "good 'ol days" of the App Store by this time next year.
My feelings are best expressed by Captain James Tiberius Kirk, from 'The Return Of The Archons';
"Without freedom of choice there is no creativity. The body dies."
Exactly!
UPDATE: Apple has returned this app to the App store. Get Tricorder TR-580
Kirk Art by Mark Slater
It's the app developer's fault for charging for the app in the first place. If you make a free, then there is no copyright violation.
Posted by: TheVanguardian | December 18, 2009 at 08:45 PM
TOS Communicator app is doing fine. Great graphics! See the trailer at http://talkndog.com
Posted by: Anton Antokhin | June 08, 2009 at 03:10 AM
The new Star Treck proves yet again why Spock is an ideal officer in Star Fleet -- nothing ever surprises him or catches him off guard
Posted by: Nomad | May 10, 2009 at 08:25 PM
My non-CBS Star Trek app is still online as well. See http://www.sabberworm.com/blog/entry/2009-05-07-search-feature-coming-your-way .
Posted by: Raphael | May 07, 2009 at 05:50 AM
"Knowledge, sir, should be free to all!" -- Harry Mudd, "I, Mudd"
CBS: a bunch of greedy killjoys. Don't they realize that these fan-loved apps do nothing but ENCOURAGE people to see Star Trek? The fewls! I hate idiocy, especially this greed-motivated idiocy.
Meanwhile their Phaser app makes me cringe, hoping the movie's phasers don't sound AT ALL like the one in their app....
Posted by: Frumius | May 03, 2009 at 06:39 AM
Man, now I REALLY want that app! Why didn't I hear about this earlier? AAARRGGHH!
Posted by: filecat13 | May 02, 2009 at 05:46 PM