docs/html/distribute/googleplay/policies/ip.jd - platform/frameworks/base - Gitiles

 page.title=Intellectual Property
 @jd:body

 <div id="qv-wrapper">
 <div id="qv">
   <h2>In This Document</h2>
   <ol>
     <li><a href="#copyright">Copyright Infringement</a></li>
     <li><a href="#impersonation">Impersonation</a></li>
     <li><a href="#trademarks">Trademark Infringement</a></li>
     <li><a href="#other">DDA 4.4 Prohibited Actions</a></li>
   </ol>

   <h2>More Resources</h2>
   <ol>
     <li><a href="http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html"
     target="_policies">Developer Program Policies</a></li>
     <li><a href="http://www.android.com/us/developer-distribution-agreement.html#showlanguages"
     target="_policies">Developer Distribution Agreement</a></li>
   </ol>
 </div>
 </div>

 <p>
   Google Play policies protect your intellectual property (IP) as well as that
   of other app developers and content creators in the store. The policies and
   their enforcements help ensure proper use of copyright, trademarks, and
   developer identity in Google Play.
 </p>

 <p>
   As an app developer, these IP policies benefit you. At the same time, it's
   your responsibility to ensure that your app does not violate the IP of other
   developers or content creators. Violations of IP-related policy may result in
   suspension of your apps from the store and termination of your developer
   account.
 </p>

 <p>
   This document introduces several key areas of IP-related policy that you
   should understand before publishing on Google Play. In each area you'll find
   best practices and examples to help you avoid common types of mistakes and
   violations.
 </p>

 <p>
   For more information about Google Play policies that apply to your apps and
   content, please see the <a href=
   "http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html" target=
   "_policies">Developer Program Policies</a> and <a href=
   "http://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement.html" target=
   "_policies">Developer Distribution Agreement</a>.
 </p>


 <h2 id="copyright">Copyright Infringement</h2>

 <p>
   Copyright is the legal right granted to an author or creator for a literary,
   dramatic or artistic piece of work. As soon as you create an original piece
   of work and fix it in a tangible medium, the work is automatically protected
   by copyright law and you are the owner of the copyright. Likewise, when other
   people create content, they may own the copyrights for those works.
 </p>


 <div class="sidebox-wrapper">
 <div class="sidebox">
 <h2>How to report infringements</h2>
 <p>If you feel your copyright is being infringed, you may file a Digital Millenium
    Copyright Act (DMCA) request. Please see <a
    href="http://support.google.com/bin/request.py?&product=androidmarket&contact_type=lr_dmca"
    target="_policies">copyright procedures</a> for more information.</p>
 </div>
 </div>

 <p>
   Copyright infringement is an improper or unauthorized use of a copyrighted
   work. If you publish an app in Google Play that uses another party's copyrighted
   works improperly or without permission, your apps can be suspended and your
   developer account terminated.
 </p>

 <p>
   As you design your app and prepare for publishing, make sure to review Google
   Play policies and analyze all of your content. If your app uses or links to
   another party's original work, make sure that your app is not infringing on
   copyright. Not all uses of another party’s work are infringements on
   copyright, and the rules vary by country and can be complex.
 </p>

 <p>
   If you are unsure whether your use of another party's work infringes on a
   copyright, consider getting legal advice before publishing, or simply request
   permission to use the work from the copyright owner.
 </p>

 <p>
   Here are some guidelines to help you avoid copyright infringement policy
   violations:
 </p>

 <ul>
   <li>
     <strong>Respect copyright laws</strong>&mdash;Do not let your app infringe
     on the copyrights of others. That includes linking to other apps or web
     sites that contain obviously infringing material (please refer to the <a href="
     {@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/policies/spam.html#webview-spam">Spam in WebViews</a> guidelines), and using icons or images that are obvious infringements.
   </li>

   <li>
     <strong>Know your app's content</strong>&mdash;Before you publish, look
     for content that may be protected by trademark or copyright in your app
     and get legal advice if necessary. Protected work could typically include
     product names, brands, images, music, and similar works.
   </li>

   <li>
     <strong>Create original work</strong>&mdash;If you’re not sure whether
     something will violate another party's copyright, the safest approach is to
     create something that's completely original, such as images or audio
     that you’ve created yourself. When you create your own original content,
     you rarely have to worry about infringing on existing copyright.
   </li>

   <li>
     <strong>Ask permission to use copyrighted work</strong>&mdash;If you want
     to use another party's copyrighted work in your app, you should ask for
     permission from the work's creator or copyright owner and include
     appropriate copyright attribution.
   </li>
 </ul>

 <p>
   A common misunderstanding is believing that your app may use copyrighted
   content without permission, provided that you clearly indicate that your app
   is not the "official" app that readers may be familiar with. That is not the
   case. Even if you let users know that your app is "unofficial", it still
   violates Google Play policies if it uses or links to copyrighted content
   without permission. Also, this type of "unofficial" app may violate <a
   href="#impersonation">impersonation policies</a>.
 </p>

 <p>
   The example app below shows an app that uses screenshots/images of known
   artists without their authorization and lists popular songs. The combination
   of these may induce users to download music ringtones that infringe on
   copyright. This is a violation of Google Play policy.
 </p>

 <div class="example-block bad" style="width:100%;float:none;margin:.5em auto 2em 0;">
   <div class="heading">Images and downloads that violate copyright</div>
   <img src="{@docRoot}images/gp-policy-ip-copyright-violation.png">
 </div>


 <h2 id="impersonation">Impersonation</h2>

 <p>
   Impersonation is when an app attempts to imply a relationship to another app
   or developer, where no relationship actually exists.
 </p>

 <p>
   For example, if your app displays the brand, icon, or title from another app
   in order to get to users to download your app, you are leading users to
   believe that your app is developed by the same entity as the other app and
   offers similar content or experience. This is an impersonation of the other
   app and developer, and it is a violation of Google Play policy. If you
   publish apps that violate impersonation policies, your apps can be suspended
   and your developer account terminated.
 </p>

 <p>
   No matter what type of app you offer or what your motivation, don’t try to
   imply an endorsement or relationship to another company or product where none
   exists. Don’t try to establish your app as the "official" version of another
   party's work by prominently featuring their brand names or trademarks in your
   app title or description.
 </p>

 <p>
   Even if your app description states that your app is an "unofficial" version,
   the use of the other app's branding, trademarks, and other content still can
   violate policy by presenting content that isn’t yours.
 </p>

 <p>
   Here are some guidelines:
 </p>

 <ul>
   <li>
     <strong>Don't pretend to be someone else</strong>&mdash; Don't represent
     that your content is produced by another company or organization if that is
     not the case.
   </li>

   <li>
     <strong>Don't support infringing sites or apps</strong>&mdash; Don't divert
     users or provide links to any other site that mimics Google Play or
     represents itself as another application or service.
   </li>

   <li>
     <strong>Don't use another app's branding</strong>&mdash; Don’t try to pass
     off your app as the official version of someone else’s property by using a
     person or entity (or brand) name in your app title or description.
   </li>
 </ul>

 <p>
   Below is an example of an "unofficial" app that violates Google Play policy
   by impersonating another company and an existing product. Specifically:
 </p>

 <ul>
   <li>The example app has a name and icon that appear to be impersonating an
   existing product.
   </li>

   <li>The example developer name implies an endorsement or relationship to
   another company and their products where none exists.
   </li>
 </ul>

 <div class="example-block bad" style="width:100%;float:none;margin:.5em auto 2em 0;">
   <div class="heading">App name, icon, and developer name that impersonate another</div>
   <img src="{@docRoot}images/gp-policy-ip-impersonation-violation.png">
 </div>


 <h2 id="trademarks">Trademark Infringement</h2>

 <p>
   A trademark is a brand that uniquely identifies a product and distinguishes
   it from other products. It can be a word, name, symbol, or combination of
   those that is intended to identify the source of the product. A trademark is
   specifically acquired by a company or other entity through a legal process
   and once acquired gives the owner exclusive rights to the trademark usage.
 </p>

 <div class="sidebox-wrapper">
 <div class="sidebox">
 <h2>How to report infringements</h2>
 <p>If you feel your trademark is being infringed, you can request a content review.
 See <a href="http://support.google.com/bin/static.py?&ts=1114905&page=ts.cs"
 target="_policies">Removing content from Google</a> for more information.</p>
 </div>
 </div>

 <p>
   Trademark infringement is improper or unauthorized use of a trademark. Google
   Play policies prohibit apps that infringe trademarks. If you publish apps in
   Google Play that use another party's trademarks, your apps can be suspended
   and your developer account terminated.
 </p>

 <p>
   As you design your app and prepare for publishing, make sure to review Google
   Play policies and analyze all of your content. If your app uses a trademark
   not owned by you, or if you are not sure whether a brand is a trademark, you
   should get legal advice before publishing. As with copyright, the rules vary
   by country and can be complex.
 </p>

 <p>
   Here are some guidelines for avoiding trademark infringement policy
   violations:
 </p>

 <ul>
   <li>
     <strong>Understand and follow trademark laws</strong>&mdash;Don't let your
     app infringe on the trademarks of others.
   </li>

   <li>
     <strong>Know your app's content</strong>&mdash;Before you publish, look for
     brands and potential trademarks used in your app and store listing and get
     legal advice if necessary.
   </li>

   <li>
     <strong>Use a distinct name</strong>&mdash;Don't give your app a name that
     is confusingly similar to another company's trademark.
   </li>

   <li>
     <strong>Don't use trademarks to imply a relationship</strong>&mdash;Don't
     describe your app using another company's trademarks in a way that implies
     an endorsement by or affiliation with the other company.
   </li>

   <li>
     <strong>Use a distinct app icon and logo</strong>&mdash;Don't use a
     modified version of another company’s trademarked logo.
   </li>
 </ul>

 <p>
   A common misunderstanding is believing that your app may use a brand or
   trademark without permission, provided you clearly indicate that the app is
   not the "official" or original app. That is not the case. Even if you let
   users know that your app is "unofficial", it still violates Google Play
   policies if it uses another party's trademarks. Also, this type of
   "unofficial" app may violate <a href="#impersonation">impersonation
   policies</a>.
 </p>

 <p>
   Below is an example app that violates Google Play policies by infringing on
   another party's trademarks. Specifically:
 </p>

 <ul>
   <li>The example app name is confusingly similar to another party's trademark.</li>
   <li>The example app icon is a modified version of a another party's logo.</li>
 </ul>

 <div class="example-block bad" style="width:100%;float:none;margin:.5em auto 2em 0;">
   <div class="heading">App name and icon that infringe trademarks</div>
   <img src="{@docRoot}images/gp-policy-ip-trademark-violation.png">
 </div>


 <h2 id="other">DDA 4.4 Prohibited Actions</h2>

 <p>
   When you publish an app on Google Play, you agree to the terms of the
   Developer Distribution Agreement (DDA). Section 4.4 of the DDA prohibits certain
   types of actions on your part. For reference, 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.
 </p>

 <p>
   For details, please refer to the complete <a href=
   "http://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement.html" target=
   "_policies">Developer Distribution Agreement</a>.
 </p>
	page.title=Intellectual Property
	@jd:body

	<div id="qv-wrapper">
	<div id="qv">
	<h2>In This Document</h2>
	<ol>
	<li><a href="#copyright">Copyright Infringement</a></li>
	<li><a href="#impersonation">Impersonation</a></li>
	<li><a href="#trademarks">Trademark Infringement</a></li>
	<li><a href="#other">DDA 4.4 Prohibited Actions</a></li>
	</ol>

	<h2>More Resources</h2>
	<ol>
	<li><a href="http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html"
	target="_policies">Developer Program Policies</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.android.com/us/developer-distribution-agreement.html#showlanguages"
	target="_policies">Developer Distribution Agreement</a></li>
	</ol>
	</div>
	</div>

	<p>
	Google Play policies protect your intellectual property (IP) as well as that
	of other app developers and content creators in the store. The policies and
	their enforcements help ensure proper use of copyright, trademarks, and
	developer identity in Google Play.
	</p>

	<p>
	As an app developer, these IP policies benefit you. At the same time, it's
	your responsibility to ensure that your app does not violate the IP of other
	developers or content creators. Violations of IP-related policy may result in
	suspension of your apps from the store and termination of your developer
	account.
	</p>

	<p>
	This document introduces several key areas of IP-related policy that you
	should understand before publishing on Google Play. In each area you'll find
	best practices and examples to help you avoid common types of mistakes and
	violations.
	</p>

	<p>
	For more information about Google Play policies that apply to your apps and
	content, please see the <a href=
	"http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html" target=
	"_policies">Developer Program Policies</a> and <a href=
	"http://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement.html" target=
	"_policies">Developer Distribution Agreement</a>.
	</p>



	<h2 id="copyright">Copyright Infringement</h2>

	<p>
	Copyright is the legal right granted to an author or creator for a literary,
	dramatic or artistic piece of work. As soon as you create an original piece
	of work and fix it in a tangible medium, the work is automatically protected
	by copyright law and you are the owner of the copyright. Likewise, when other
	people create content, they may own the copyrights for those works.
	</p>


	<div class="sidebox-wrapper">
	<div class="sidebox">
	<h2>How to report infringements</h2>
	<p>If you feel your copyright is being infringed, you may file a Digital Millenium
	Copyright Act (DMCA) request. Please see <a
	href="http://support.google.com/bin/request.py?&product=androidmarket&contact_type=lr_dmca"
	target="_policies">copyright procedures</a> for more information.</p>
	</div>
	</div>

	<p>
	Copyright infringement is an improper or unauthorized use of a copyrighted
	work. If you publish an app in Google Play that uses another party's copyrighted
	works improperly or without permission, your apps can be suspended and your
	developer account terminated.
	</p>

	<p>
	As you design your app and prepare for publishing, make sure to review Google
	Play policies and analyze all of your content. If your app uses or links to
	another party's original work, make sure that your app is not infringing on
	copyright. Not all uses of another party’s work are infringements on
	copyright, and the rules vary by country and can be complex.
	</p>

	<p>
	If you are unsure whether your use of another party's work infringes on a
	copyright, consider getting legal advice before publishing, or simply request
	permission to use the work from the copyright owner.
	</p>

	<p>
	Here are some guidelines to help you avoid copyright infringement policy
	violations:
	</p>

	<ul>
	<li>
	<strong>Respect copyright laws</strong>—Do not let your app infringe
	on the copyrights of others. That includes linking to other apps or web
	sites that contain obviously infringing material (please refer to the <a href="
	{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/policies/spam.html#webview-spam">Spam in WebViews</a> guidelines), and using icons or images that are obvious infringements.
	</li>

	<li>
	<strong>Know your app's content</strong>—Before you publish, look
	for content that may be protected by trademark or copyright in your app
	and get legal advice if necessary. Protected work could typically include
	product names, brands, images, music, and similar works.
	</li>

	<li>
	<strong>Create original work</strong>—If you’re not sure whether
	something will violate another party's copyright, the safest approach is to
	create something that's completely original, such as images or audio
	that you’ve created yourself. When you create your own original content,
	you rarely have to worry about infringing on existing copyright.
	</li>

	<li>
	<strong>Ask permission to use copyrighted work</strong>—If you want
	to use another party's copyrighted work in your app, you should ask for
	permission from the work's creator or copyright owner and include
	appropriate copyright attribution.
	</li>
	</ul>

	<p>
	A common misunderstanding is believing that your app may use copyrighted
	content without permission, provided that you clearly indicate that your app
	is not the "official" app that readers may be familiar with. That is not the
	case. Even if you let users know that your app is "unofficial", it still
	violates Google Play policies if it uses or links to copyrighted content
	without permission. Also, this type of "unofficial" app may violate <a
	href="#impersonation">impersonation policies</a>.
	</p>

	<p>
	The example app below shows an app that uses screenshots/images of known
	artists without their authorization and lists popular songs. The combination
	of these may induce users to download music ringtones that infringe on
	copyright. This is a violation of Google Play policy.
	</p>

	<div class="example-block bad" style="width:100%;float:none;margin:.5em auto 2em 0;">
	<div class="heading">Images and downloads that violate copyright</div>
	<img src="{@docRoot}images/gp-policy-ip-copyright-violation.png">
	</div>


	<h2 id="impersonation">Impersonation</h2>

	<p>
	Impersonation is when an app attempts to imply a relationship to another app
	or developer, where no relationship actually exists.
	</p>

	<p>
	For example, if your app displays the brand, icon, or title from another app
	in order to get to users to download your app, you are leading users to
	believe that your app is developed by the same entity as the other app and
	offers similar content or experience. This is an impersonation of the other
	app and developer, and it is a violation of Google Play policy. If you
	publish apps that violate impersonation policies, your apps can be suspended
	and your developer account terminated.
	</p>

	<p>
	No matter what type of app you offer or what your motivation, don’t try to
	imply an endorsement or relationship to another company or product where none
	exists. Don’t try to establish your app as the "official" version of another
	party's work by prominently featuring their brand names or trademarks in your
	app title or description.
	</p>

	<p>
	Even if your app description states that your app is an "unofficial" version,
	the use of the other app's branding, trademarks, and other content still can
	violate policy by presenting content that isn’t yours.
	</p>

	<p>
	Here are some guidelines:
	</p>

	<ul>
	<li>
	<strong>Don't pretend to be someone else</strong>— Don't represent
	that your content is produced by another company or organization if that is
	not the case.
	</li>

	<li>
	<strong>Don't support infringing sites or apps</strong>— Don't divert
	users or provide links to any other site that mimics Google Play or
	represents itself as another application or service.
	</li>

	<li>
	<strong>Don't use another app's branding</strong>— Don’t try to pass
	off your app as the official version of someone else’s property by using a
	person or entity (or brand) name in your app title or description.
	</li>
	</ul>

	<p>
	Below is an example of an "unofficial" app that violates Google Play policy
	by impersonating another company and an existing product. Specifically:
	</p>

	<ul>
	<li>The example app has a name and icon that appear to be impersonating an
	existing product.
	</li>

	<li>The example developer name implies an endorsement or relationship to
	another company and their products where none exists.
	</li>
	</ul>

	<div class="example-block bad" style="width:100%;float:none;margin:.5em auto 2em 0;">
	<div class="heading">App name, icon, and developer name that impersonate another</div>
	<img src="{@docRoot}images/gp-policy-ip-impersonation-violation.png">
	</div>


	<h2 id="trademarks">Trademark Infringement</h2>

	<p>
	A trademark is a brand that uniquely identifies a product and distinguishes
	it from other products. It can be a word, name, symbol, or combination of
	those that is intended to identify the source of the product. A trademark is
	specifically acquired by a company or other entity through a legal process
	and once acquired gives the owner exclusive rights to the trademark usage.
	</p>

	<div class="sidebox-wrapper">
	<div class="sidebox">
	<h2>How to report infringements</h2>
	<p>If you feel your trademark is being infringed, you can request a content review.
	See <a href="http://support.google.com/bin/static.py?&ts=1114905&page=ts.cs"
	target="_policies">Removing content from Google</a> for more information.</p>
	</div>
	</div>

	<p>
	Trademark infringement is improper or unauthorized use of a trademark. Google
	Play policies prohibit apps that infringe trademarks. If you publish apps in
	Google Play that use another party's trademarks, your apps can be suspended
	and your developer account terminated.
	</p>

	<p>
	As you design your app and prepare for publishing, make sure to review Google
	Play policies and analyze all of your content. If your app uses a trademark
	not owned by you, or if you are not sure whether a brand is a trademark, you
	should get legal advice before publishing. As with copyright, the rules vary
	by country and can be complex.
	</p>

	<p>
	Here are some guidelines for avoiding trademark infringement policy
	violations:
	</p>

	<ul>
	<li>
	<strong>Understand and follow trademark laws</strong>—Don't let your
	app infringe on the trademarks of others.
	</li>

	<li>
	<strong>Know your app's content</strong>—Before you publish, look for
	brands and potential trademarks used in your app and store listing and get
	legal advice if necessary.
	</li>

	<li>
	<strong>Use a distinct name</strong>—Don't give your app a name that
	is confusingly similar to another company's trademark.
	</li>

	<li>
	<strong>Don't use trademarks to imply a relationship</strong>—Don't
	describe your app using another company's trademarks in a way that implies
	an endorsement by or affiliation with the other company.
	</li>

	<li>
	<strong>Use a distinct app icon and logo</strong>—Don't use a
	modified version of another company’s trademarked logo.
	</li>
	</ul>

	<p>
	A common misunderstanding is believing that your app may use a brand or
	trademark without permission, provided you clearly indicate that the app is
	not the "official" or original app. That is not the case. Even if you let
	users know that your app is "unofficial", it still violates Google Play
	policies if it uses another party's trademarks. Also, this type of
	"unofficial" app may violate <a href="#impersonation">impersonation
	policies</a>.
	</p>

	<p>
	Below is an example app that violates Google Play policies by infringing on
	another party's trademarks. Specifically:
	</p>

	<ul>
	<li>The example app name is confusingly similar to another party's trademark.</li>
	<li>The example app icon is a modified version of a another party's logo.</li>
	</ul>

	<div class="example-block bad" style="width:100%;float:none;margin:.5em auto 2em 0;">
	<div class="heading">App name and icon that infringe trademarks</div>
	<img src="{@docRoot}images/gp-policy-ip-trademark-violation.png">
	</div>


	<h2 id="other">DDA 4.4 Prohibited Actions</h2>

	<p>
	When you publish an app on Google Play, you agree to the terms of the
	Developer Distribution Agreement (DDA). Section 4.4 of the DDA prohibits certain
	types of actions on your part. For reference, 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.
	</p>

	<p>
	For details, please refer to the complete <a href=
	"http://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement.html" target=
	"_policies">Developer Distribution Agreement</a>.
	</p>