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Google Apps License Forbids Forking, Promotes Google Services

Posted by timothy on from the also-requires-you-bow-to-satan-and-eat-twinkies dept.

Sockatume writes "If you want to ship a phone with Google's apps on it, you need to license them. A copy of the OEM licensing agreement from 2011 was recently leaked, and Ars Technica provides a summary. Amongst the rules: a company licensing Google Apps can't act in a way that would fragment Android, but must also maintain the platform's open-ness; most of Google's services must be included; Google apps must be defaults, and placed within a couple of clicks of the default home screen. No surprises, but it's interesting to see the details laid out."

4 of 163 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Wait, what? by Kenja · · Score: 5, Informative

    Android is based on Linux. The Google apps are not. Despite what some people claim, not everything written for a GPL operating system must be open source.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  2. You don't have to have google apps in your droid. by queazocotal · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.jolla.com/ - for example - is one example of a vendor selling a phone that can run android apps - on top of 'normal' linux - without preinstalling the normal google play market. (because they can't - as what they are doing in making the linux side more open means it's not vanilla android anymore)

  3. Re:Gee, just fork it. by cduffy · · Score: 4, Informative

    You are free to use the Darwin Kernel and make your own GUI.

    ...just as you're free to use AOSP without any Google Apps, and make your own mail reader / app store / etc.

    And AOSP is one heckuvalot more than just a kernel.

  4. Re:Antitrust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    The Sherman Act has nothing to do with the EU dipshit