Reviewing ipad apps on itunes

Not a big problem, but puzzling. I received an app as a promo and tried to write a review for it. I downloaded it through the itunes store and tried it out on my iPad, but when I tried (several times) to write a review for it, I received the message "In order to write a customer review for this app, you must have purchased or downloaded it first." (on my laptop) or the message "You do not own this item. To rate this item, you must own it." (on my iPad). But I HAVE downloaded it, and I DO own it. Any ideas? The developer is at a loss, also, as he is trying to get his app moving, and so far there are no reviews.

So the app is available in the App Store but you used a promo code to purchase it as opposed to buying it? If so, it's strange that you can't review it. The developer might have to take it up with Apple to see what they say..

Yep, that's what happened. Also, he sent me a separate app as an iTunes GIFT, I redeemed it, downloaded the app, and played around with it, but when I tried to review and rate it, I got the same message as before. Yet, I was able to rate and review a different app that I had purchased a couple of weeks ago. I'm wondering whether there is a time requirement - maybe after an app is downloaded it's necessary to wait a given amount of time before reviewing it?

You can't review an app on the App Store that you got via a promo code. Can't remember the exact reason, but I think it's so developers can't hand out codes for the purpose of loading reviews.

I was wondering whether that was the issue also. Back in April, you made a suggestion that someone give out promos in order to get reviews for an app, but I guess since then you've discovered Apple doesn't allow that? http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/ios-apps/271543-looking-promote-my-new-app-any-advices.html And I assume the same is true for a developer gifting an app.

It's a fairly recent addition to the App Store policy, so that post may have been when you could still do that.