youtube Google demands Microsoft removes YouTube Windows Phone app, cites lack of a

[BajiRav]

http://www.theverge....ndows-phone-app

Microsoft updated its own YouTube application for Windows Phone just over a week ago and Google isn't impressed. The Verge has obtained a copy of a cease and desist letter that Google has sent to Microsoft recently, demanding that Microsoft "immediately withdraw this application from the Windows Phone Store and disable existing downloads of the application by Wednesday, May 22, 2013." Microsoft's YouTube app for Windows Phone appears to have taken Google by surprise.

Well, that didn't last long :laugh:

Edit: The Verge now has a copy of the letter.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/141717155/Google-letter-to-Microsoft

[Som]

well i guess their reason is fair, although i hate ads personally ....

[George P Global Moderator]

So all this time when MS said Google wasn't allowing them to offer a native/better Youtube support in WP It seems they were telling the truth. Once MS decided to just say screw it and do it regardless on their own with this new app we get Google tossing a fit? GG

[BajiRav]

well i guess their reason is fair, although i hate ads personally ....

really? Didn't Page just complain that oracle wants money over interoperability and then this? :laugh: oh man Google is all over the place today.

[vcfan]

edit: the issue is about downloads because it prevents ads from being shown.

[contriver87]

they have no leg to stand on. Microsoft is using the public API available to all developers,and for video, they incorporated Flash in the app,which again,is available to use in the API.

edit: the issue is about downloads because it prevents ads from being shown.

You also missed the part about Microsoft outright calling the app YouTube without it being sanctioned by Google.

[vcfan]

You also missed the part about Microsoft outright calling the app YouTube without it being sanctioned by Google.

(1) allows users todownload videos from YouTube? (2) prevents the display of advertisements in YouTube video playbacks? and (3) plays videos that our partners have restricted fromplayback on certain platforms (

e.g.

, mobile devices with limited feature sets). These features directly harmour content creators and clearly violate our Terms of Service. We request that you immediately withdrawthis application from the Windows Phone Store and disable existing downloads of the application byWednesday, May 22, 2013

from the letter. its about ads and downloads,and not because they called it youtube.

On second thought, Microsoft may be grabbing video from the youtube website, acting like a browser, and displaying it, and not using the API ,which falls outside of API usage restrictions. they are probably only using the API for other features, like uploads,etc... I'm sure their legal team had a hard look at this before.

[BajiRav]

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from the letter. its about ads and downloads,and not because they called it youtube. #3 is bull**** and doesn't fly because its using the flash player,and it isn't in the TOS

Best part? The mobile youtube website also does not show ads on Windows Phone. :rofl: (at least I have never seen one).

[contriver87]

Check it again.

In addition to violating those provisions of the Terms of Service, your application also uses YouTube?s protected trademarks in ways that likely confuse consumers as to the source of the application and whether it is affiliated with or approved by YouTube. The YouTube API Branding Guidelines (https://developers.g...outube/branding) state that you may never use the YouTube logo or the YouTube name in conjunction with the overall name or description of your application, product or service.

[Studio384]

I hope Microsoft says: "Screw it Google, Windows Phone just doesn't support the add system you use." :p

[chrisj1968]

I hope Microsoft says: "Screw it Google, Windows Phone just doesn't support the add system you use." :p

hence we would like to see UFC #??? MS vs google. Whoever wins, gets to have their way.. :woot:

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Although I appreciate Microsoft's effort in delivering a quality YouTube experience for WP8 users, I can't think of a good reason to ignore Google's demand. It seems unfair for Google to deny Microsoft full access to the YouTube API but it's also unfair for Microsoft to circumvent the ad revenue system in YouTube. In the end, it belongs to Google and they can do whatever they want with their product and branding.

I hope both companies come to an agreement that will give us the current app in a slightly different form or an official app from Google.

[chrisj1968]

Although I appreciate Microsoft's effort in delivering a quality YouTube experience for WP8 users, I can't think of a good reason to ignore Google's demand. It seems unfair for Google to deny Microsoft full access to the YouTube API but it's also unfair for Microsoft to circumvent the ad revenue system in YouTube. In the end, it belongs to Google and they can do whatever they want with their product and branding.

I hope both companies come to an agreement that will give us the current app in a slightly different form or an official app from Google.

You're right. MS and google need to come to some agreement.

[BajiRav]

You're right. MS and google need to come to some agreement.

I doubt Google has good intentions for any kind of agreement after reading the trademark related text. They don't want microsoft to make a "Youtube" app and they clearly are not going to make one. He pretty much says WP users should use the youtube mobile website (which is optimized for webkit only)

[vcfan]

Check it again.

like I questioned earlier,they may not be using the API and are acting as a browser with flash player,which means they are not bound by the terms of the API. I just checked the terms on youtube,and there is a restriction on modifying the youtube player, but Microsoft doesn't have to modify the youtube player to bypass the ads. It also says nothing about restricting the use of the icon or name,because a browser has to show the name and logo when you visit youtube. there is a restriction on "downloading", but this might not stand,as youtube doesn't own the content. They cant put restrictions on downloads of other peoples content.

For clarity, you retain all of your ownership rights in your Content. However, by submitting Content to YouTube, you hereby grant YouTube a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the Content in connection with the Service and YouTube's (and its successors' and affiliates') business, including without limitation for promoting and redistributing part or all of the Service (and derivative works thereof) in any media formats and through any media channels. You also hereby grant each user of the Service a non-exclusive license to access your Content through the Service, and to use, reproduce, distribute, display and perform such Content as permitted through the functionality of the Service and under these Terms of Service.

[techbeck]

Although I appreciate Microsoft's effort in delivering a quality YouTube experience for WP8 users, I can't think of a good reason to ignore Google's demand. It seems unfair for Google to deny Microsoft full access to the YouTube API but it's also unfair for Microsoft to circumvent the ad revenue system in YouTube. In the end, it belongs to Google and they can do whatever they want with their product and branding.

I hope both companies come to an agreement that will give us the current app in a slightly different form or an official app from Google.

agreed.

You can download videos with the Windows app?

And didnt MS recently sent out letters to devs on Windows that used Facebooks trademarks...

[vcfan]

agreed.

You can download videos with the Windows app?

And didnt MS recently sent out letters to devs on Windows that used Facebooks trademarks...

facebook sent the take down requests to MS to deliver to the devs.

[techbeck]

facebook sent the take down requests to MS to deliver to the devs.

ahh, ok....my mistake

But there is more to this if others would read the letter. Taking money away from the creators for blocking the ads and being able to download them is not allowed. Even if it was up to the creators to determine if their videos can be downloaded, I doubt they would be happy with the loss of revenue.

[MorganX]

Google better be careful. They're top dog right now in phones and tablets, by a wide margin. When they start hurting consumers, it won't work out well for them no matter how big of a lead they have.

[Stoffel]

Didn't Google a while ago said it would ignore the standard ON setting for tracking protection in IE10 on windows 8

I would say **** You Google if I was MS, until Google wants to play nice they shouldn't either

[Growled Member]

I would say **** You Google if I was MS, until Google wants to play nice they shouldn't either

Legally I don't think they can. If they do I'm sure Google will sue them for a zillion dollars and win. It's Google's site and they can do what they want with it.

[Stoffel]

Legally I don't think they can. If they do I'm sure Google will sue them for a zillion dollars and win. It's Google's site and they can do what they want with it.

We don't know yet if whatever MS is saying is true, but if Google is not giving them access to the right API's to actually accomplish what Google wants them to do, I don't think Google has a case

I really hope Google bites the dust on this on

[George P Global Moderator]

It seems MS isn't using Googles APIs so then they can't violate the rules behind those APIs in the end. If this is indeed the case Google has no legal stance in this other than to block the WP app which will only make them look bad in the PR battle.