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Tag: App Market

  • Android App Groups Charged For Piracy

    Android App Groups Charged For Piracy

    The openness of the Android platform has many advantages, but it also makes the platform more of a gamble for developers. Apple’s iOS is still the leading platform for many app releases (especially games) and apps can often sell on iOS while their Android versions are free. The reason for this is the expectations that Android users have, as well as the ease with which Android apps can be pirated using alternative app stores that operate in the open. Now, however, app pirates will have to be more careful or face legal consequences.

    The U.S. Department of Justice has charged four people in connection with running alternative pirate Android app stores. All four defendants in the case have been charged with conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement. They could each face up to five years in prison if found guilty.

    One of the defendants is accused of involvement in the SnappzMarket app store, which the Justice Department believes distributed over one million pirated Android apps. The other three defendants have been charged for their involvement in the Appbucket app store, which authorities also believe distributed over one million pirated apps.

    All of the defendants are accused of renting server space for their respective app stores. Both of the stores were seized by U.S. authorities in August 2012.

    “These crimes involve the large-scale violation of intellectual property rights in a relatively new and rapidly growing market,” said Mythili Raman, acting U.S. assistant attorney general. “While this represents the first counterfeit apps case by the Department of Justice, it exemplifies our longstanding commitment to prosecute those who steal the creative works of others.”

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  • “Siri For Android” Pulled From Android Market

    Last week we brought you news that a Siri clone, Speerit, had appeared in the Android App Market. Speerit is actually one of several apps promising users the same functionality as the iPhone 4S’s Siri on their Android devices. While Speerit is still available (for now, at least), another of the apps – “Siri for Android” – was pulled from the App Market over the weekend.

    The removal of Siri for Android instead of Speerit is interesting: while Siri for Android clearly infringes on Apple’s intellectual property with its name, Speerit does so in pretty much every other respect. The app’s icon, as well as several other icons within the app, are all stolen from Apple, and the app’s description calls it “REAL Siri for Android.” The highly selective nature of this takedown illustrates Google’s tendency to refrain from policing its App Market except in response to specific complaints. Since no one has apparently complained about Speerit, it stays up, despite being possibly the worst of the bunch for infringing on Apple’s trademarks.

    It puts an interesting wrinkle in the perennial iOS-Android debate over whether a closed or open system is better. Many criticize the closed nature of Apple’s App Store as stifling innovation, and for its occasionally arbitrary decisions about which apps are allowed in and which aren’t. The far more open model of the Android App Market, the argument goes, is far more developer-friendly. On the other hand, we have situations like this: the open(-ish) App Market model allows for rampant copyright infringement (and even malware, on occasion), something that Apple’s model makes all but impossible.

  • Siri Clone Hits Android App Market

    Siri Clone Hits Android App Market

    Siri is unquestionably the killer app for Apple’s iPhone 4S. The voice-based personal assistant has been drawing oohs and aahs since it the iPhone 4S was first announced. Not wanting to be left too far behind, Google naturally has a competitor in the works. Their version is apparently dubbed Majel, after Majel Barrett Roddenberry, wife of Gene Roddenberry and the actress who voiced the computer on every Star Trek series.

    Well, it seems that a Korean Android app developer didn’t feel like waiting for Majel to be ready, and went ahead and put a Siri clone in the Android App Market. The app, Speerit, is a clone, not just a competitor. The icon is a slightly modified version of Siri’s microphone, and the description says “REAL Siri for Android.” Here are a couple of screenshots:

    That's the Speerit!

    The app is currently free, but unless you speak or understand Korean, you’re pretty much out of luck. Though the app apparently understands English, it speaks only Korean. At present the app is still available, but don’t be surprised if it gets yanked sometime in the near future. Obviously fake or not, Apple isn’t likely to sit idly by while someone else uses Siri’s icon and name without their permission.