Can Andorid Apps have same name - public name.. or they need to have different names..
i want to ensure that if i create an app and post on google play... someone else sld not copy the app and host it elsewhere with the same name..
please advise if apps can or cannot have same public name..
Your question is about apps having the same name, but your actual concern is about the theft of your application. These are two separate issues.
If someone did a straight copy of your APK and attempted to post it to Google Play, then they would be unable to do so if you had already posted that same APK to Google Play yourself. The reason they would be prevented from posting it, however, would be due to its package name being the same as an existing app, not because of its name.
A more sophisticated thief might be able to change your package name, and if they could do that, then they could also probably (even more easily) change your app's name. In that case, they might be able to post the resulting app to Google Play. You then would might decide to complain about this to Google and ask that the infringing app be taken down. There is a form for this kind of complaint here:
http://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/request.py?contact_type=takedown
I don't know what kind of results you might obtain from such a complaint, but Google has recently become much more focused on preventing infringing apps of this kind, so you might get a good response.
If you're talking about other app stores, outside of Google Play, then you have to look at the policies of those stores. But certainly there is nothing preventing an app that has been posted on Google Play from being posted on these other stores, provided that it meets the policies of the other store. Developers do this themselves (post on multiple app stores) all the time. And of course it can have the same name and the same package.
Regarding the more general question of whether two apps on Google Play can have the same name:
In the past it has been the case that two apps could have the same name on Google Play.
However, in August, 2012 (since you posted your question) Google announced new Developer Program Policies that state that
"Apps must not have names or icons that appear confusingly similar to existing products, or to apps supplied with the device (such as Camera, Gallery or Messaging)."
The full policies can be found here:
http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html
It may still be possible to post an app that has the same name as an existing app, but if someone did that, there is at least some chance that Google's (somewhat inscrutable by design) automated detection process will flag that app for the above reason. This could lead to a letter from Google and, if the app's name were not changed, an eventual takedown.
These policies are relatively new, and probably nobody, even Google, knows exactly how they are going to play out. How, for example, will Google resolve apps that are already similarly named? Will it go with the first app to use the name, or will it go with the most popular app having the name, or will it ask app owners to negotiate a settlement, or will it just allow the ambiguous names to be grandfathered in? I certainly do not know the answer, but for new apps, for sure, honest developers will avoid naming their apps in a manner that is similar to your app, and malfeasants who use the same name are likely to hear from Google.
Your package name must be unique (ex. com.example.mail.free) to publish an app on Google Play.
I nearly sure that the name is not important. You can have different names on different languages.
Related
Good Day,
I would like to know, can you use any name for an Android application, or is there a place to see if you can use your name for the application? I just want to make sure that the name is within Legal rights?
I have googled the app name that I want to use and did not find anything related to the name, I do not know of any other sources to have a look at.
Just want to know if I will be in Legal rights.
Thank You,
Kind Regards
It depends on where you are and where you plan to sell your app. The best place to search would be the Patent/Trademark agency in your country, or the country(s) you plan to distribute your app in. However, most developers don't bother to do this. Generally, when you start to create an app, you register your app name and identifier through your App Store (Google Play, Amazon, iTunes App Store) and if that app name is already in use, the store will reject the name. That's the best indicator of whether the name is already used by someone else, since almost all apps are distributed through those three App Stores. That said, it is possible that even after distributing your app, someone will complain that you are using their trademarked name. If you verify this to be true, you just have to unpublish your app, rename it to something similar, and publish it with a new app id. I've never had a problem after publishing 70-80 apps over the years.
I've uploaded my first Android application to Google Play yesterday, and was really excited for my app to finally be on out there.
But my application got suspended for impersonation. I obviously didn't get any more information about what I infringed specifically, and I'm unsure what I should change in order for the app to be accepted (more likely, resend as a different app name).
Before you could help me you'll need to know some information on the app itself. So I basically made a companion app for a video game. I called the application "Horadrim Companion", and it's supposed help players for playing Diablo 3. Naturally, I'm using elements from this game in the app.
So, my main question is why did I get the impersonation suspension?
I can think of several options, please help me figure out what of those could be the issue:
I didn't write "This app is unofficial" in the description, which I've seen several other apps do. This might be the sole reason, but I'm not enough experienced to make this assumption.
I took the logo out of the game lore. Which in itself should be borderline legit, but I've seen other apps do the same, so I assumed it's fine.
The app name. I dont think I've hit a sweet spot with the name or anything, and I dont think it was any of the factors for the bans.
In-app design? I've seen other apps use design elements from Blizzard Entertainment and\or Diablo 3 design elements themselves. Could this be another possible reason? Sounds more like copy right infringement if anything, and not impersonation.
So I'm not sure which, of the above are critical for the impersonation policy or not.
I'd really like your help, you could make one developer a happy man. I'm really afraid the account will be terminated.
I'd really liked your suggestions!
I had the same problem with suspended app publishing because of impersonation.
I solved this by buying/registering the domain name I used as my app package name. I also added my developer email in the company details section of my keystore while signing the apk for release. After doing this my second attempt at publishing was a success.
It becomes easier if you actually own the domain of the package name you wanna use.
I think basically the algorithm used for verifying the originality of our apps is just too strict. So we have to also play our part and go the extra mile to show that we are legit.
Hope someone can relate to this.
All the best.
Usually you receive an email from
Google Play Support with REASON FOR REMOVAL: Violation of the spam provisions of the Content Policy. Please refer to the keyword spam policy help article for more information.
Your title and/or description attempts to impersonate or leverage another popular product without permission. Please remove all such references. Do not use irrelevant, misleading, or excessive keywords in apps descriptions, titles, or metadata.
If you received no such notification, you should try submitting an appeal your app removal/suspension from Google Play using the form in the link below:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/contact/appappeals
It is most likely that the reason for suspension is one from the list of options in your post, but usually it is explicitly highlighted by Google in their email under the section 'REASON FOR REMOVAL'
The link below lists more such reasons for removal due to trademark infringement of a third party IP:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/2986098?hl=en&ref_topic=2985713
It is unlikely that your account itself will be terminated, unless you are identified by Google as a repeat offender.
"I took the logo out of the game lore"
It's not your resource so you violate intellectual property
"The app name"
You can't use a trademark word
"I've seen other apps use design elements from Blizzard Entertainment"
Those apps must've been released years ago. Now, the SQA team is really strict about rule.
I mean, if u search "One Piece" or "Naruto" there are a lot of apps that doubtfully has a license.
I am about to launch an android app and I have decided the name "Math addict" for it.
The problem is -
There is a website named mathaddict.com which has their software called Math addict but I couldn't find copyright documents on their website.
An app exists on Apple App store with the exact same name.
But there is no app with such name on Google Play as of now. Moreover I haven't copied anything from any lf these apps/softwares.
Is it advisable to use this name for my app? My apps have been suspended on Google Play in the past and hence I am little more apprensive this time.
Please suggest what can be done.
I also suggest you jse a different name, let's assume someone search's Math addict in google it is highly possible that the web site you mentionned and the app from app store will be shown at first so yours will be the last except if you do some good work on keywords optimisation,
You instead use something like Math addict app , mathapp, appmath
IANAL. As long as you are not trying to impersonate these other products, you should be fine. However, in the extreme case this can quickly lead to some ugly court battles if your app is in competition with these other websites and products. Assuming that you are a single developer, you probably don't have to worry about this. However, if you have a large success, then you might need to be concerned. The legal battles between Apple Computers and Apple Music are quite famous for fighting over the legal right to a name.
I really don't think you need to be worried about the legalities here. On the other hand, you want your app to be found and not to be confused with other similar apps. At this point, I think differentiating yourself from the competition is probably a much higher concern.
According to Google Play policy:
Impersonation or Deceptive Behavior: Don't pretend to be someone else,
and don't represent that your app is authorized by or produced by
another company or organization if that is not the case. Products or
the ads they contain also must not mimic functionality or warnings
from the operating system or other apps. Products must not contain
false or misleading information in any content, title, icon,
description, or screenshots. Developers must not divert users or
provide links to any other site that mimics or passes itself off as
another app or service. Apps must not have names or icons that appear
confusingly similar to existing products, or to apps supplied with the
device (such as Camera, Gallery or Messaging).
Source
So I will highly suggest you to select a different name for safety.
I know it is technically possible to put the same application into the app store with 2 almost identical APKs (different package names and titles), although probably a bit dodgy - I imagine this would not be allowed by Google, but I don't see anything in their Ts & Cs that prohibit this
https://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement.html
E.g. "My cool app free" And "The awesomest app trial"
Question: Is this allowed?
Reason: A colleague and I were debating the effect of titles and descriptions of downloads (based on different indexes/user searches) and wondering if people ever post a game/app with 2 different ones to see which is more successful
You can if the package name of the app is different, as you said. This is done quite often for apps with trial and paid version. Regarding your question, we have right now around 6 apps in Google Play which are different branded versions of the same app. This means, they have their own package name, splash screen, and some database data, but the app is really the same. So far we didn't get any trouble with Google, so I would say it's possible.
Just for reference, in case you are interested in doing something similar, the best option in terms of maintainability of your app, consists in using an Android library project.
Basically you have one main big project with the "Android Library" option checked in Eclipse. You have all the main code there.
On the other hand, you create two additional projects linked to your library. They will just need their manifest.xml and some activity to call the main activity of the library. Their package names must be different if you want to publish both apps in Google Play.
Additionally, you can override some resources for every project. For instance, you could have a boolean in /res/values indicating whether the project is a trial or paid version, with different values for them. Then, in the library you could check this boolean to show advertisements if it's a trial version.
Another useful thing you can do is using a custom splash screen for every app, by having different image resources in every project with the same name.
As far as I know, it is allowed and certainly has been done in the past (malware masquerading as popular games). Provided the app you're publishing is your own work (and really only the name is different), then I can't see anyone reporting it either.
It is prohibited according to Play Console Developer Program Policy (effective October 21, 2020).
We don't allow apps that merely provide the same experience as other apps already on Google Play. Apps should provide value to users through the creation of unique content or services.
Here are some examples of common violations:
Copying content from other apps without adding any original content or value.
Creating multiple apps with highly similar functionality, content, and user experience. If these apps are each small in content volume, developers should consider creating a single app that aggregates all the content.
When developing an iOS app one can register or claim an app name by creating an entry in iTunesConnect and supplying placeholder descriptions and screenshots. Is there a similar process in the Android app store?
I'm not interested in squatting on app names. I'm just porting an iOS app to Android and I'd like to have an identical app name.
I dont think there is an equivalent in the android ecosystem. Here are a couple of suggestions which may not guarantee the name, but may help in some ways.
1) You can publish a bare minimum app with the correct package name (like com.company.appname). But I think the actual app name part will still be pretty open.
2) Another way may be to buy a .com domain for your app (if it is still available). It may sound far fetched but I believe (I may be wrong) people take that into account to avoid getting into trademarks & copyrights issues. If you have an app that is good enough for being published in multiple platforms, then buying a domain makes sense.