WeChat challenger app Bullet pulled from app store over copyright issues
Bullet Message, the social media app which has been billed as a challenger to WeChat was temporarily pulled from China’s App store this week over potential content violations.
Bullet, the messaging app taking on China's market leading WeChat has faced copyright issues in China
The app, which is owned Kuairu Technology and backed by Smartisan, made headlines in August when it amassed 5 million users to the messaging app within just two weeks of launching. Last month, Bullet claimed to have more than 7.5 million users on the messaging app.
Bullet bills itself as a slimmed down messaging app which focuses on voice-to-text messaging and news content rather than the many services on WeChat.
According to media reports, Bullet was removed from Apple’s China app store on Tuesday due to image copyright issues relating to a partner’s news content. Bullet features news from Jinri Toutiao and Tencent News.
While the app has now quietly reappeared in the app store, it is the latest controversy surrounding the fledgling app, which has been criticised for allowing illicit content to be shared. The content has raised eyebrows given the Chinese government’s current crackdown on China’s internet companies.
WeChat remains the dominant market leader in the messaging space in China and boasts more than one billion users.