pippin wrote:
> Do you have a blog post or something to quote?
No I don't have a blog, but here's the original notification from
Google:
Code:
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This is a notification that your application, Squeeze Control, with package
ID com.angrygoat.android.sqzctrl, has been
removed from the Google Play Store.
REASON FOR SUSPENSION: Violation of the intellectual property and
impersonation or deceptive behavior provisions of the Content Policy.
Please refer to the IP infringement and impersonation policy help article for
more information.
- Your app and/or elements of its listing on Google Play, including title,
description, logo(s), or promotional screenshots must not include
unauthorized usage of protected works belonging to a third party.
- Your app icon and promotional screenshots must not contain images that
appear confusingly similar to existing products.
This particular app has been disabled as a policy strike. If your developer
account is still in good standing, you may revise and upload a
policy compliant version of this application as a new package name.
This notification also serves as notice for other apps in your catalog. You
can avoid further app suspensions by immediately ensuring that no
other apps in your catalog are in violation of (but not limited to) the above
policy. Please also ensure your appsÂ’ compliance with the Developer
Distribution Agreement and Content Policy.
All violations are tracked. Serious or repeated violations of any nature will
result in the termination of your developer account, and investigation
and possible termination of related Google accounts. If your account is
terminated, payments will cease and Google may recover the proceeds
of any past sales and the cost of any associated fees (such as chargebacks
and payment transaction fees) from you.
If you feel we have made this determination in error, you can visit the
Google Play Help Center article for additional information regarding this
suspension.
The Google Play Team
--------------------
Here's the response to my appeal:
Code:
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Hi,
Thank you for your note.
Thank you for your reply. We appreciate the opportunity to review your appeal
pertaining to the removal of your application from Google Play.
After a regular review, your app has been administratively suspended pending
verification that you are authorized to publish on behalf
of the original content or brand owner - for all music album covers.
We were not able to validate your account's relationship to the original
content or brand owner. In order for us to process your appeal,
please provide documentation that the application is authorized in your reply
to this notification. Please be advised we will not be able to
respond or reinstate your application without the above documentation.
We appreciate your assistance and look forward to your reply.
If we can assist you further, please let us know.
Regards,
The Google Play Team
--------------------
My first response:
Code:
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This app is a remote control for the Logitech Squeezebox network music
system. The app itself does not actually contain any of the
album covers, it is basically just a front end for a music server and
displays whatever the server sends to it. Here's a Wikipedia entry
on the Squeezebox system:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeezebox_%28network_music_player%29
It is essentially a music player app where the audio is output on an external
device. Would a music player app require authorization to
show cover art contained within the music file?
Also there are at at least 5 other apps that does the exact same thing and
also display album artwork.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orangebikelabs.orangesqueeze
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.cedata.android.squeezecommander
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.logitech.squeezeboxremote
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.org.ngo.squeezer
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.lkamp.android.SqueezeBoxController
- Wayne
--------------------
My second response when I didn't get a reply after a few days:
Code:
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Hi,
Since I you have not replied to my previous email, I will explain my
situation again.
My app Squeeze Control does NOT need authorization from the brand owner to
display music album covers.
Almost every music player app, including Google Play Music, displays music
album covers and I doubt that any one of them has explicit
permission from the brand owners to do so. Even a company as large as Google
could not possibly have obtained the right to display the
album covers of every piece of music ever created.
That right is not needed since the user, by legally obtaining the music, was
already granted to right to view and display the album cover and
the music player is just acting as the mechanism to view that album cover.
Squeeze Control is essentially a remote control of a music player and is also
just acting as the mechanism for displaying the album covers of
music that the user has the right to view.
If Squeeze Control cannot display album covers then neither should any music
player app, including Google Play Music.
- Wayne
--------------------
Here's the final email from Google:
Code:
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Hi,
We have reviewed your appeal and will not be reinstating your app. This
decision is final and we will not be responding to any
additional emails regarding this removal.
As you may be aware, we do not pre-screen applications submitted to the
Google Play. If you would like to report an app that
you believe is a violation of the developer terms please flag it as
inappropriate via the Google Play app or submit a report through our contact
form.
Be advised that any perceived compliance or non-compliance of other
developersÂ’ apps has no bearing on the compliance of
your own apps.
If your account is still in good standing and the nature of your app allows
for republishing you may consider releasing a new, policy compliant
version of your app to Google Play under a new package name. We are unable to
comment further on the specific policy basis for this removal
or provide guidance on bringing future versions of your app into policy
compliance. Instead, please reference the REASON FOR REMOVAL in the
initial notification email from Google Play.
Please note that additional violations may result in a suspension of your
Google Play Developer account.
Regards,
The Google Play Team
--------------------
--------------
Squeezebox apps for webOS, Android and Windows Phone,
http://www.angrygoatapps.com
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