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Google Asks Android Developers To Show Sensitivity To Disasters and Atrocity

Posted by samzenpus on from the blood-apps dept.

Mark Wilson writes: Today Google revealed an updated version of its Google Play Developer Program Policies. There aren't actually all that many changes or additions, but those that are present are quite interesting. Google is clamping down on the problem of impersonation, making it clearer that it is not permissible to mislead users by imitating other apps, making false claims, or suggesting endorsements that do not exist. One of the more intriguing changes to the document sees Google calling on developers to show sensitivity to evens such as natural disasters, war, and death. Any apps or other content that attempt to benefit by exploiting such events are explicitly banned.

3 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. ripping off other apps by circletimessquare · · Score: 3, Interesting

    maybe i'm behind the news curve but...

    is it still the case that a lonely developer can release an app he or she slaved over lovingly for months, only to see it ripped off and released by someone else who games the ranking system and reaps all the profits?

    that seems to be the real threat to their app ecosystem

    https://play.google.com/about/...

    Intellectual Property: Don’t infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, (including patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, and other proprietary rights), or encourage or induce infringement of intellectual property rights. We will respond to clear notices of alleged copyright infringement. For more information or to file a DMCA request, please visit our copyright procedures.

    doesn't seem strong enough to me

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  2. Why are Millennials such sissies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why do Millennials tend to be such sissies? Why do they care so much about "hurt feelings" and "safe spaces" and all sorts of wimpy stuff like that?

    Why do we have a whole generation of people who can't put up with even the smallest bit of criticism, and who can't tolerate anything that's even slightly negative?

    Why do these Millennials so badly crave to suppress anything and oppress everyone who they have labelled as "offensive"?

    Why do we have millions upon millions of 20- and 30-year-olds, who should be well into adulthood, acting like toddlers?

    Is it because they're a product of the Baby Boomers, who have typically fucked up each and every thing they've tried to do?

  3. Re:Foolishness by enigma32 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I thought Google was smarter, though.

    They did just censor search results for merchandise branded with a particular logo that has a negative connotation for most enlightened humans, despite the fact that other merchandise branded with similarly offensive logos is still easily found through them.

    I'm beginning to lose a lot of faith in Google. I think the business idiots have run the engineers out of there.