Google removes Ad Blocker apps from Play Store
by Antonio Wells
Mar 13, 2013 4:34 PM –
Google has just alerted developers with Ad Blocker apps in the Play Store of their app’s removal as they apparently violate section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement. So apps like Adblock Plus, Ad Blocker Root, AdAway, etc. have all been removed. It’s a bit vague but here goes…
You agree that you will not engage in any activity with the Market, including the development or distribution of Products, that interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner the devices, servers, networks, or other properties or services of any third party including, but not limited to, Android users, Google or any mobile network operator. You may not use customer information obtained from the Market to sell or distribute Products outside of the Market.
My interpretation is that these apps interfere with third party network activity. One can also infer that malware and antivirus apps interfere in the same way… Yes? No? Though I’m not a lawyer and Google has final jurisdiction on that judgement, but I clearly know that these apps disrupt Google’s own AdMob/AdSense monetization network which seem to saturate Android apps and they can’t have that right?
I’m personally torn here as I’m in favor of these types of apps which I use to help filter out inappropriate ads on my daughter’s tablet (P.S. developers please add age appropriate filters and eliminate irrelevant categories in your app’s ads), however, we too have an app that is ad support- so these types of apps potentially stunt our revenue opportunities. Of course if you still want these apps you can download and sideload them directly. What are your thoughts on the issue?
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