Developer Manton Reece submitted Inkwell for iOS on April 21st. After numerous rejections, code changes, and an appeal, the app remains in limbo. Issues range from missing content reporting tools to Sign in with Apple failures and questions about the business model. The prolonged process has become a significant burden for the Micro.blog companion app.

Specific guideline violations include: 1.2 (lacking report/block features and clear policies), 2.1(a) (Sign in with Apple malfunction), 2.1(b) (monetization queries), 3.1 (dispute over app store categorization and revenue share), various design flaws, 5.1.1(v) (missing account deletion), and 5.2.5 (Apple's own dormant 'Inkwell' trademark). Reece has implemented most technical fixes.

The core dispute involves Apple's long-unused 'Inkwell' trademark for a defunct handwriting feature. Despite the USPTO listing it as dead and other apps using the name, Apple's review team objects. Reece argues this exceeds legal bounds, using App Store control to enforce an unused trademark. He faces a philosophical and practical dilemma over rebranding after his Android version already launched.