For the first time in US history, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center have taken down three sites involving cell phone app marketplaces. Appbucket, Snappzmarket, and Applanet are all displaying seizure notices, following in the footsteps of more notorious take downs such as MegaUpload.
This move on the part of the US government is sure to please app developers – especially ones like Madfinger games, who has complained very loudly about Android piracy – but this might have unintended consequences, as well. For example, one of my most useful apps – Photo Unlocker – is not distributed in traditional app marketplaces like the Play Store or Amazon Appstore. However, it’s definitely not pirated; it’s distributed completely free of charge, but through alternate channels. And while this specific app wasn’t affected by these seizures, it could be in the future.
On the other hand, there’s always collateral damage. I cannot in good conscience condone Android piracy, especially when many of these developers are individuals who are trying to make a living through the sale of their apps. A lot of pirated apps also come with malware, and given Android’s lackluster anti-virus solutions, it’s never a good idea to take that risk.
What do you think about these seizures?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO What am I going to do???
No I’m kidding BUT I do agree that although this helps developers keep money in their pockets, it sometimes hurts apps like you mentioned John that are not in the Google Play Store or in the Amazon App Store.
Hopefully the developers of these FREE apps get their stuff together and get their stuff published in the Play Store
Great article BTW!
I agree with it.Plenty of free apps if you dont want to pay. These devs make this stuff and if they charge thats their right and if you dont pay your stealing
So, now Android users will have to learn to use the word “torrent” in searches on google…
Glad those places are shut down though… got too many developers I’d like to see making beer money. The things that were being pirated, ok, some of them were high dollar, but 99 cent apps… seriously…
Often times with android apps, paid versions are better, you get official updates that usually help the app improve. And they’re cheap, is a couple bucks for an app really breaking the bank?
I never understood pirated apps. They’re inexpensive and generally well worth it. Moral issue aside, which should be enough in and of itself, it is important to support developers. It’s only fair and keeps more and better apps coming.
I think people download pirated content because they are so used to not paying for anything (PC software).
It is so easy to do it, that even a dollar, is a dollar too much for them.
I agree, but I feel like that because people are so used to pirating software from these giant companies, they lose sight of the fact that most of these apps are made by struggling developers
Support our friendlies and the continuation of apps and games!