CHINA BRIEF| Danke Apartment gets app removed from Apple’s App Store after IP complaint

Apple has removed Beijing-based online home rental platform Danke Apartment, also known as Phoenix Tree Holdings Ltd (NYQ: DNK), from the Chinese version of its App Store, the platform confirmed with KrASIA on Monday. 

The removal happened after an unnamed US-based software company filed a complaint with the App Store alleging Danke app used two photos made using its software without authorization, resulting in IP infringement, according to Danke.

Danke, which operates more than 430,000 apartment rooms across 13 cities in China, added that they have deleted these two photos, which came from their suppliers, shortly after being notified and has been communicating with the App Store to restore its app.

Danke’s app is still available on various Android app markets. The company widened its net loss to RMB 3.43 billion (USD 493 million) in 2019, 152.2% higher than a year ago.

This article is part of KrASIA’s “China Brief” section, where KrASIA’s reporters will provide quick daily updates about the tech ecosystem in China.