[android-developers] Re: 7-Day Notification of Google Play Developer Term Violation

Yeah, I'm having to guess that's the issue in my case. I've got some backup icons that look nothing like Chrome and I guess the app will be renamed to something like "Bookmarks for Google Chrome".

I do have to say that I'm annoyed that Google's violation email was so vague. They state there is a violation of policy and to read the policy document, but the policy documents are just as vague (to me!). I'm quite sure the majority of Android developers here are hobbyists or people with no real skills in reading legal documents. I just think Google could have given a couple of bullet points in the email to indicate what was exactly the issue - someone somewhere flagged my app up for one or more specific reasons so why can't those reasons have been copied into the mail..? Instead, they just gave me the rough areas in error and I have to deduce all the problems.

Since Google doesn't allow communication on this subject, I've got 7 days to make changes that I think are the problem. There may be other changes Google wants that no-one else has spotted yet and I'll get suspended even though I'm trying my very best to correct the issues!

But don't get me started, again, on the inability for us to speak to or email a real person for help with anything related to Google.. :-)

On Tuesday, August 7, 2012 5:03:18 PM UTC+1, FiltrSoft wrote:

I don't think this is true.  If that was the case, every news aggregator app would be pulled.  Hell, even Google themselves are violating this as their search results display other people's content within their "application" (so to speak).

I think the issue is you cannot use other people's content without crediting them.  You can't create a news aggregrator that pulls in content from sites, but doesn't have a link back to the content.

You also can't create an app that looks similar to another app/trademark/company.  The problem with the OP is his app has the word "Chrome" in it and uses the same colors as Google's Chrome.

On Tuesday, August 7, 2012 11:32:54 AM UTC-4, Pyp wrote:

Unfortunately, Google won't talk to you about it at all nor will they give you any more details.
I personally had an account terminated over a year ago for similar reasons.
Long story short. You cannot make a quick buck off of other peoples work, celebrity fame and so forth.
Any of your apps need to have 100% original content. Regardless of whether you say unofficial or not affiliated. You simply cannot use anyone's name or a company name or display any of their content from within your app. Like others have mentioned, you may link to their site but it cannot open in your application.
I'm sure you are saying to yourself, but what about all the other apps in the market that do this. They will eventually be taken down as well.

I have a website protected by dmca and would immediately file for infringement if anyone displays my dubstep music, name or logos within their app.
I'm not a lawyer but I've been there and done that. Now I use all original content .

If I were you then I would unpublish any questionable app if you have any more like it.
If you get too many apps suspended then you will lose your account indefinitely.
If making apps is something you would like to continue then try and find some new ideas.
I know its hard but there is a lot of open source projects out there which you can use for development as well as the entire aosp.
Just make sure you use Apache 2 projects.
If you use any gpl content at all then you need to make your app open source under gpl as well or risk further violations.

I really hope this explains the situation enough for people and in more layman terms so people understand.

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