Google and the Windows Phone Marketplace

[Mr. Gibs]

It is no secret that Google does not see much reason to support Windows Phone 7 with their numerous services, such as YouTube, Google Voice etc, but it seems the company has now gone on the offensive even against 3rd party applications which offer their services on Windows Phone platform.

The developer of YouTube Live has received a notice from Microsoft on behalf of Google asking them to remove YouTube Live, reading:

"This message is to notify you that Microsoft has received Content Infringement Complaint (?Complaint?) regarding your application Youtube Live. A copy of the Complaint is attached for your review.

Remove Application Access Immediately

You must remove access to the application from the Marketplace within one business day. If your application is still available for download after one business day,Microsoft may remove the application without further notice. Please note that under certain circumstances Microsoft may remove your app immediately without providing you the opportunity to remove it."

Google services form a pretty important part of the online experience for most internet users, and it would be pretty damaging if Windows Phone 7 appears not to offer any access to their services. While Google is within their rights to ask for these apps to change their names, it does make it more difficult for new users to find these apps.

At least the notice means Windows Phone has become big enough for Google to take notice, which is not a bad thing in itself.

Source: http://wmpoweruser.com/google-cracking-down-on-marketplace-apps-offering-their-services/

tl:dr Google doesn't want you using their product names (GVoice, YouTube etc) for third party apps

[Tom]

Wait what? What a douche move.

[Mr. Gibs]

Wait what? What a douche move.

It is, but its their trademarks so bleh. Sucks that the only application they've made for WP7 is an absolutely terrible search app. At least third party devs have been able to make pretty good Voice, youtube and google maps apps.

Can someone who has iTunes check to see if there are any third party apps using Google trademarked names in the App Store?

What's funny is that if it was Microsoft doing this to Android, this thread would be filled with complaints :rofl:

[Mullins]

Surprising? No.

[Japlabot]

OK OK finally we have found something that Google has done which is evil!

[George P Global Moderator]

It is, but its their trademarks so bleh. Sucks that the only application they've made for WP7 is an absolutely terrible search app. At least third party devs have been able to make pretty good Voice, youtube and google maps apps.

Can someone who has iTunes check to see if there are any third party apps using Google trademarked names in the App Store?

What's funny is that if it was Microsoft doing this to Android, this thread would be filled with complaints :rofl:

You're right about that, there's always this huge double standard it seems. Anyways, if I had that kinda app i'd change the name but just keep Google and Youtube etc as one of the keywords for a search, then people should still be able to find my app. Now if Google takes this to the next level and says don't use our services at all or changed the APIs in a way that killed the apps then that'd be a really huge issue.

Still, WP is a small market, why do they even care so much? And why do this now? WP and some of those apps have been out for a year or more at this point, so did they just now look at the platform (doubt it seeing as they've copied some key parts of WP over to Android). I could just be jumping to conclusions, but since this is neowin and lots of people do I'd say it's a aftereffect of the Lumia 900 doing well sales wise.

[alphaomegainfinity]

How can an app infringe their rights whereas the same site can be accessed through the web on a Mango phone?

[Syanide]

How can an app infringe their rights whereas the same site can be accessed through the web on a Mango phone?

It's not the app, it's the name. Imagine a situation where someone would distribute malware under the "YouTube Live" name. Most people would point fingers at Google and go to them for support, etc. This is pretty much a non-issue.

[foodan]

Google apparently went after the Metrotube app previously and had it taken down. That app never infringed on the the Google's products name either. This is just Google being total douche bags.

[George P Global Moderator]

Google apparently went after the Metrotube app previously and had it taken down. That app never infringed on the the Google's products name either. This is just Google being total douche bags.

I guess you can't have a app with "tube" in the title now eh? Metrotube was a good app to.

[fenderMarky]

It's not the app, it's the name. Imagine a situation where someone would distribute malware under the "YouTube Live" name. Most people would point fingers at Google and go to them for support, etc. This is pretty much a non-issue.

This is not android...

[ichi]

Google apparently went after the Metrotube app previously and had it taken down. That app never infringed on the the Google's products name either. This is just Google being total douche bags.

Google didn't go after Metrotube, the Metrotube developer decided to discontinue the app because of issues with the API.

[DevilsNotDead]

Good move by Google... it will mislead customer who might think that its a service by google.

Developers should use some other name. also this will make Android more appealing to people who use google a lot and realize that there is no official apps on wp7.I think its a win for Google.

[.Neo]

What's funny is that if it was Microsoft Apple doing this to Android, this thread would be filled explode with complaints :rofl:

Fixed that for you. ;)

[Mr. Gibs]

Good move by Google... it will mislead customer who might think that its a service by google.

Developers should use some other name. also this will make Android more appealing to people who use google a lot and realize that there is no official apps on wp7.I think its a win for Google.

Lol ok then. Maybe Microsoft should stop allowing Exchange to be used on Android (what's funny is Google doesn't even pay for it and instead uses some reverse engineered version that they made). Hotmail apps / access from all Android phones should be completely revoked too :rolleyes: Pretty sure that you'll find more people use Microsoft's offerings (mail, msn messenger etc but not search) than Google.

Nice trolling there bro.

What's funny is that those apps are often quite high quality, look pretty good and run really well. So essentially those devs are doing Google a favor by building apps that use Google Services (google would also earn money from the maps application).

But its like I said, if Microsoft did this to Android this topic would have had about 200 replies by now. Since its Google, not even 1 page.

[ichi]

Lol ok then. Maybe Microsoft should stop allowing Exchange to be used on Android (what's funny is Google doesn't even pay for it and instead uses some reverse engineered version that they made). Hotmail apps / access from all Android phones should be completely revoked too :rolleyes: Pretty sure that you'll find more people use Microsoft's offerings (mail, msn messenger etc but not search) than Google.

Google's request is about the application name, not about the functionality.

Forget for a moment that we are talking about Google, Youtube and Windows Phone: is it really a smart decision to use a trademark in your app name? Much unlike with patents and copyright, trademark owners are required to actively protect their trademark, or else they risk losing the ownership.

[Mr. Gibs]

Google's request is about the application name, not about the functionality.

Forget for a moment that we are talking about Google, Youtube and Windows Phone: is it really a smart decision to use a trademark in your app name? Much unlike with patents and copyright, trademark owners are required to actively protect their trademark, or else they risk losing the ownership.

Which is why I asked are their any third party Google apps that uses their trademarks in the App Store.

Google allows you to use their trademarks in your app: http://www.google.com/permissions/guidelines.html You just need to follow their directions:

Things to do:

If you are using a Google trademark, distinguish the trademark from the surrounding text in some way. Capitalize the first letter, capitalize or italicize the entire mark, place the mark in quotes, use a different type style or font for the mark than for the generic name.

If you do not capitalize the entire mark, always spell and capitalize the trademark exactly as they are shown in the Google Trademarks and Suggested Accepted Generic Terms below.

Use the trademark only as an adjective, never as a noun or verb, and never in the plural or possessive form.

Use a generic term following the trademark, for example: GOOGLE search engine, Google search, GOOGLE web search.

Use only Google-approved artwork when using Google?s logos.

If you are using a Google logo on a web page, there must exist a minimum spacing of 25 pixels between each side of the logo and other graphic or textual elements on your web page.

Pretty sure YouTube Live (for example) follows all of that.

[ichi]

Google allows you to use their trademarks in your app: http://www.google.co...guidelines.html You just need to follow their directions:

Pretty sure YouTube Live (for example) follows all of that.

If you read further down in that page you'll find that Google explicitly forbids using Google trademarks in your product name.

[Mr. Gibs]

If you read further down in that page you'll find that Google explicitly forbids using Google trademarks in your product name.

Then where's the trademark notices sent to the countless apps on the App Store that use Google names?

What about the ones in the android store that have youtube in their name? Or other google trademarks in their name?

[Tech Star]

This is not android...

LOL. Owned. :laugh:

[ichi]

Then where's the trademark notices sent to the countless apps on the App Store that use Google names?

What about the ones in the android store that have youtube in their name? Or other google trademarks in their name?

Maybe the app developers actually followed the instructions in the link you posted and filled the authorization request?

[DevilsNotDead]

Lol ok then. Maybe Microsoft should stop allowing Exchange to be used on Android (what's funny is Google doesn't even pay for it and instead uses some reverse engineered version that they made). Hotmail apps / access from all Android phones should be completely revoked too :rolleyes: Pretty sure that you'll find more people use Microsoft's offerings (mail, msn messenger etc but not search) than Google.

Nice trolling there bro.

What's funny is that those apps are often quite high quality, look pretty good and run really well. So essentially those devs are doing Google a favor by building apps that use Google Services (google would also earn money from the maps application).

But its like I said, if Microsoft did this to Android this topic would have had about 200 replies by now. Since its Google, not even 1 page.

yeah fanboy... we get it.. i am sure u hurt.. and MS is not urs and what Ms should stop doing is not your to say..

Google made a smart move there and MS wont and everyone knows it.. still its win for google here.

[Mr. Gibs]

yeah fanboy... we get it.. i am sure u hurt.. and MS is not urs and what Ms should stop doing is not your to say..

Google made a smart move there and MS wont and everyone knows it.. still its win for google here.

Actually I don't really care if no Google apps are available on Windows Phone. I use google search, but that can be done from the web browser so I don't really need an app for it. It's not really a win for google at all, because at the end of the day less people using their services if they start filing stupid requests like this.

But there are other people who use it. My point is simply this, if Apple or Microsoft did this I bet you'll be going on about how MS and Apple are evil corporations but since it's Google its Good job Google, its a win for you!

Hell let's just say Microsoft made EAS illegal on Android because its a Microsoft technoloy, and Android is a competitor then what would happen? Would you be in here going "Yeahhh it's a win for Microsoft, if you don't think so you're a fanboy"?

[jakem1]

yeah fanboy... we get it.. i am sure u hurt.. and MS is not urs and what Ms should stop doing is not your to say..

Google made a smart move there and MS wont and everyone knows it.. still its win for google here.

Grow up.