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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.

6 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. Re:Cool by narcc · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's why this is going to be a tough sell. Android developers are used to disasters and atrocity, having developed android applications.

    Honestly, Google, what was the Android team smoking? When working on a Blackberry port feels like a breath of fresh air, you know you've made some serious mistakes.

    --
    Required reading for internet skeptics
  3. Re:Atrocity for some is parody for others by viperidaenz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Translation: Don't be an asshole

  4. Re:Atrocity for some is parody for others by viperidaenz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you write a game that involves knocking down houses in Nepal that survived the recent earthquake, you're an asshole. Don't expect it to last long before being removed.

    If you write a game called "Kill the Gays", you're an asshole. Don't expected it to last either.

  5. Re:Google is Big Brother . . . by WaffleMonster · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Are you kidding? You aren't forced to have anything to do with Google. It is their company, they can restrict whatever they want.

    Do mobile app developers get to chose where their customers come from? Between the Apple store and Google you can say it is all free will and App store vendors can do what they want with their own software and infrastructure yet they have effectively become gatekeepers of execution and if they don't like what your doing you can expect an audience of crickets.

    All I will say is enjoy your kings and monopolies people. If your not willing to defend the right of assholes to be themselves without censorship then don't be surprised when one day you too get fucked over by the same system.

  6. Re:So where is the line? by WaffleMonster · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Taking down games or apps which are clearly intended to be hateful, I'm not sure I even have an example probably because I've never gone looking for them... a confederate flag app that drops the n-bomb when you rub the stars the right way? dunno what an example would be. But OK, I can see that.

    Sticks and stones. Freedom isn't about agreeing with nice people.