Did Apple approve an app that infringes on Pixar’s property?

December 21st, 2008

Take a look at the picture on the right. Chances are it looks familiar to you. Maybe you think you know why; Oh, that’s a WALL-E game based on the hit movie of the same name, right? No, that’s a new iPhone game called iBot, but yes, its main character sure looks a lot like the character WALL-E’s love interest, EVE.

That’s interesting for a few reasons. First, iBot was made by some company called Alcomi and not Pixar, or Pixar’s parent Disney, the company behind WALL-E. Second, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs started Pixar in 1986 before selling it to Disney in 2006. Apple, of course, makes the iPhone and iPod touch that this iBot game runs on. And third, the look of EVE (and many other parts of WALL-E) were inspired by Apple.

Apple has to approve all apps that are allowed into the App Store, but it’s hard to believe that they have absolutely no problem with iBot. Sure, the character is a little bit different than Eve, it has wheels and is partially painted red, but look at the two side by side below. Yeah.

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