AfterDawn: Tech news

Google demands YouTube app be removed from Windows Phone Store

Written by James Delahunty @ 15 May 2013 10:42 User comments (5)

Google demands YouTube app be removed from Windows Phone Store

Google has written a cease and desist letter to Microsoft, demanding that it remove an updates YouTube app for the Windows Phone operating systems.
Microsoft recently released an updated YouTube app for Windows Phone that raised some eyebrows as it clearly seemed to violate the terms and conditions of the YouTube API. At the center of Google's anger is the deliberate blocking out of ads by the app.

"Unfortunately, by blocking advertising and allowing downloads of videos, your application cuts off a valuable ongoing revenue source for creators, and causes harm to the thriving content ecosystem on YouTube," Google wrote to Todd Brix, Senior Director of Windows Phone Apps Team.

Another noted issue with the updated app since it was released is its apparent ability to download YouTube videos locally, making them available to other apps on the system.

Google is demanding that Microsoft remove the updated YouTube app from the Windows Phone Store and "disable existing downloads of the application," by May 22.

Previous Next  

5 user comments

116.5.2013 14:33

"disable existing downloads of the application," by May 22.


Oh this might get interesting.
Microsoft may have to uninstall or delete content from users phones without their consent and that would be hilarious. Even more so if google forces them to turn over all records of IPs that have already downloaded copyrighted content.

And I'm no lawyer but Microsoft would probably have to take full responsibility for any lawsuits or customers hurt feelings. It's sad to see google be a dick like this. But the fact that PC users have been able to do all these things for years and google knows they can't do anything to stop it might be some form of payback.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 16 May 2013 @ 2:34

217.5.2013 09:50

Put the code out there for free for everybody.

317.5.2013 11:06

Again Google vs Microsoft or Microsoft vs Google.

Are all YouTube apps have been developed by other developers should be removed as well?

417.5.2013 11:14

I'm actually rooting for Microsoft on this one even though they should lose the case based on this article.

517.5.2013 22:26

Google can't allow Microsoft to provide Windows Phone users a capability that would never be allowed on the Google Play Store for Android phones.

Comments have been disabled for this article.

Latest news

VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads (16 Mar 2024 4:31)
VLC Media Player, the versatile video-software powerhouse, has achieved a remarkable feat: it has been downloaded over 5 billion times.
1 user comment
Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit (19 Dec 2023 11:09)
Google settled its lawsuit in September 2023, and one of the settlement terms was that the way applications are installed on Android from outside the Google Play Store must become simpler. In the future, installing APK files will be easier.
8 user comments
Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets (06 Jun 2023 9:19)
Roomba Combo j7+ is the very first Roomba model to combine robot vacuum with mopping features. And Roomba Combo j7+ does all that with a very clever trick, which tackles the problem with mopping and carpets. But is it any good? We found out.
Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations (02 May 2023 3:38)
Neato Robotics has ceased its operations. American robot vacuum pioneer founded in 2005 has finally called it quits and company will cease its operations and sales. Only a skeleton crew will remain who will keep the servers running until 2028.
5 user comments
How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp (20 Mar 2023 1:25)
The world's most popular messaging platform, Meta-owned WhatsApp has enabled sending messages to yourself. While at first, this might seem like an odd feature, it can be very useful in a lot of situations. ....
18 user comments

News archive