How to block my application on Google Play
So I touched the same fate))
Before read a lot of blocking the application, or your entire account on Google Play, here as well. But I thought it would not affect me.
A bit about the application.
The idea is simple and seemingly harmless - task management. The main feature is the integration with Google Tasks and the maximum “Google” design.
Application called the ToDo .
Not a working link to the application play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ua.com.apec.qsmart.todo
After the name, to indicate that this application is for Google Tasks, I wrote "ToDo - Google Tasks".
The description indicated that it is synchronized with Google Tasks.
I note that “Google Tasks” was used only in the product description on Google Play. In the product itself, the word Google is not mentioned anywhere.
I published the application and everything went fine. Fixed bugs, expanded functionality and released new versions.
It lasted about six months.
And during the holidays, January 4, I receive the following letter:
Let's immediately search and understand what is the point. I was blocked due to the Google trademark.
I found a list of all Google brands: www.google.com/permissions/trademark/trademark-list.html
As it seemed, I didn’t use the Google trademark as indicated in the message, but the Google Tasks ™ trademark (service and application).
Then I began to search whether I can use this trademark in the description of my products.
Found the following:
www.google.com/permissions/faq.html
First, the product must be compatible with the Google product - it's true, it is only compatible with it and does not work without it :-)
Second, references to compatibility with Google products should contain the phrases “intended for”, “compatible with” or “for use with. " This is a bit of a mistake, I just used a hyphen, but I had ToDo for Google Tasks ™.
Well, I think it's not a problem - I’ll rename it. I am writing an appeal to Google, in return I get what you write to the applicant, if he is not opposed, then we will restore (Google writes, write to Google, if not against, then we will restore :-)).
I look who the applicant is, but it turns out that a certain company AppDetex and the note “AppDetex is authorized by Google Inc. to facilitate the submission of and correspondence regarding complaints. ” Somehow strange, but oh well - I write.
I get a response in 2 days “Google has received your email. We will get back to you shortly. ” That was January 6th.
The whole circle closed :-). I didn’t get anything else. He wrote, called the telephone number indicated - nothing.
This is how Google blocked Google for trademark infringement, and, according to a third party, cannot unblock it without their permission.
PS Theoretically, I can once again publish the application under a new name, but I lose all users and statistics and stay with a black mark and re-blocking threatens to block the entire account. Or create a new account from harm's way, but I don’t know if I’ll break something else. Or just forget about Google and start writing applications for iOS))
UPDATE
I don’t know what influenced (maybe this post), but today they unblocked the application and allowed me to make changes to the description text
Before read a lot of blocking the application, or your entire account on Google Play, here as well. But I thought it would not affect me.
A bit about the application.
The idea is simple and seemingly harmless - task management. The main feature is the integration with Google Tasks and the maximum “Google” design.
Application called the ToDo .
Not a working link to the application play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ua.com.apec.qsmart.todo
After the name, to indicate that this application is for Google Tasks, I wrote "ToDo - Google Tasks".
The description indicated that it is synchronized with Google Tasks.
I note that “Google Tasks” was used only in the product description on Google Play. In the product itself, the word Google is not mentioned anywhere.
I published the application and everything went fine. Fixed bugs, expanded functionality and released new versions.
It lasted about six months.
And during the holidays, January 4, I receive the following letter:
Email Content
This is a notification that your application, ToDo - Google Tasks, with package ID ua.com.apec.qsmart.todo, has been removed from the Google Play Store.
REASON FOR SUSPENSION: Alleged trademark infringement.
Google has been notified that aspects of your application, ToDo - Google Tasks, allegedly infringe upon the trademarks of others, and it has been removed from the Google Play Store due to a violation of the Content Policy.
All violations are tracked. Serious or repeated violations of any nature will result in the termination of your developer account, and investigation and possible termination of related Google accounts. If your account is terminated, payments will cease and Google may recover the proceeds of any past sales and the cost of any associated fees (such as chargebacks and payment transaction fees) from you.
You may contact Google Inc. at enforcement.33977.53947@mail.appdetex.com. If Google Inc. contacts us specifically authorizing your app to be re-published, and your app does not otherwise violate the Developer Distribution Agreement and Content Policy, we will reinstate the app.
Please note that we have included a text copy of the Infringement Notice we received for your reference. If you have any further concerns about this issue, please address them directly to the complainant in the Infringement Notice provided below.
The Google Play Team
Text Copy of Infringement Notice:
full_name: Alexis Meghrouni Rivas
your_title: Managed Services Director
companyname: Google Inc.
address: 609 W Main Street, Suite 202
Boise
Idaho
83702
US
country_residence: US
contact_email_noprefill: enforcement.33977.53947@mail.appdetex.com
phone: (872) 240-2777
trademark_relationship: Google Inc. is the intellectual property owner for
this complaint.
Note: AppDetex is authorized by Google Inc. to facilitate the submission of
and correspondence regarding complaints.
tm_work: Google will be happy to provide a full list of trademarks upon
request.
tm_work: THE GOOGLE
tm_work: 1145934: AU
tm_work: 2007 0710: AZ
tm_work: THE GOOGLE
tm_work: 859 851: the KE
tm_work: 118 782: SY
tm_work: THE GOOGLE
tm_work: 860242: SZ
tm_work: 19999: the SR
tm_work: THE GOOGLE
tm_work: 83275: JO
tm_work: 26111: AW
tm_work: GOOGLE
tm_work: 83264: JO
tm_work: 81/20986: BB
tm_work: GOOGLE
tm_work: 67280: KW
tm_work: 107833: LB
android_app_url:
play.google.com/store/apps/d...ec.qsmart.todo
trademark_explain: The app uses the logos and trademarks of Google without
authorization.
tm_sworn_statement1: tm_good_faith
tm_sworn_statement2: tm_swear
NoticeToDeveloper: agree1
signature_date: 12/30/15
signature: Alexis Meghrouni Rivas
subject_lr_trademark: Your Request to Google
hidden_product: googleplay
geolocation: US
Let's immediately search and understand what is the point. I was blocked due to the Google trademark.
I found a list of all Google brands: www.google.com/permissions/trademark/trademark-list.html
As it seemed, I didn’t use the Google trademark as indicated in the message, but the Google Tasks ™ trademark (service and application).
Then I began to search whether I can use this trademark in the description of my products.
Found the following:
www.google.com/permissions/faq.html
I am a developer and use the Google developer tools to create new products. Can I use the Google name?
We do not allow the creation of company names or applications that include or resemble Google trademarks. If you indicate that your product is compatible with a Google product, this should be true. Google product compatibility references must include the phrase “intended for,” “compatible with,” or “for use with.” If you use the Google trademark with your logo, the latter must be larger than the Google trademark. The first mention of a Google trademark should contain the symbol “TM”, for example, “XYZ Software for Android ™” or “ABC Plugin for Google Chrome ™”.
First, the product must be compatible with the Google product - it's true, it is only compatible with it and does not work without it :-)
Second, references to compatibility with Google products should contain the phrases “intended for”, “compatible with” or “for use with. " This is a bit of a mistake, I just used a hyphen, but I had ToDo for Google Tasks ™.
Well, I think it's not a problem - I’ll rename it. I am writing an appeal to Google, in return I get what you write to the applicant, if he is not opposed, then we will restore (Google writes, write to Google, if not against, then we will restore :-)).
I look who the applicant is, but it turns out that a certain company AppDetex and the note “AppDetex is authorized by Google Inc. to facilitate the submission of and correspondence regarding complaints. ” Somehow strange, but oh well - I write.
I get a response in 2 days “Google has received your email. We will get back to you shortly. ” That was January 6th.
The whole circle closed :-). I didn’t get anything else. He wrote, called the telephone number indicated - nothing.
This is how Google blocked Google for trademark infringement, and, according to a third party, cannot unblock it without their permission.
PS Theoretically, I can once again publish the application under a new name, but I lose all users and statistics and stay with a black mark and re-blocking threatens to block the entire account. Or create a new account from harm's way, but I don’t know if I’ll break something else. Or just forget about Google and start writing applications for iOS))
UPDATE
I don’t know what influenced (maybe this post), but today they unblocked the application and allowed me to make changes to the description text