/!\ BE AWARE OF YOUR APP, DavinciDevelopers try to steal them and sell them on the market !!
Hello guys,
Be careful, if you post an apk of your free app here, somebody will try to take the apk, remove the signature, and upload it as a paid version on the market !
The proofs : (edited to add new stolen softwares)
Llamadroid
- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=10113570#post10113570
- http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-kebab-llamadroid-zzjjD.aspx
(removed today, on 5th january)
Typo clock
- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=814054
- http://www.appbrain.com/app/beautiful-clock-widget-3d/com.semicuda.typoclock
Iron soldiers
- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=862875
- http://www.appbrain.com/app/iron-soldiers/vuxia.ironSoldiers
(removed from market today, on 5th january, but still referenced)
Championship racing 2010
- http://www.vividgames.com/sub_game.php?id=42
- http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-vividgames-championship_racing_2010-zzxwq.aspx
(removed today, on 5th january)
Liquid wallpaper
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=878252
http://www.appbrain.com/app/liquid-physics/livewallpaper.liquid
Bluetooth Scanner
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=900923
http://www.androidzoom.com/android_games/casual/bluetooth-scanner_pvqg.html
(New !! Now, we have proof that ALL his apps are stolen)
And even Gameloft best sellers (paid games) :
http://www.androlib.com/android.app...ndroid-gand-gloftspaw-heroofsparta-zjCDi.aspx
(removed from market today, on 5th january, but still referenced)
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-gameloft-android-gand-gloftavar-avatar-zjCEx.aspx
(removed from market today, on 5th january, but still referenced)
Minigore
http://minigore.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-minigore-is.html
http://www.appbrain.com/app/minigore-hd/com.ambushgames.minigore
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-ambushgames-minigore-zzjqD.aspx
Zuma's revenge
Original
http://www.zumasrevengegame.com/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/3620/
Scammers
http://www.appbrain.com/app/zumas-revenge-hd/com.popcap.zumas_revenge
http://www.appbrain.com/app/zumas-revenge/com.fox.game.zumasrevenge
How is it possible ?
Google does not check your apk signature when you upload a software.
Even if you signed yous apk with you key, somebody else can put this on his google account.
The signature can be deleted easily if needed.
He can change the title of your app, so nobody see it, but he can't change the apk name nor the icon.
Why do we post our apk here ?
To have testers, to correct bugs, to have a perfect look and feel before put it on the market.
Because on the market people are rude, we have only one chance, so we need to avoid bugs.
And when we put our app online, we want to choose if it's paid or free (with ads or not).
What is the problem ?
If DavinciDevelopers steal and upload your app, he will lock your pak name.
2 apps can't have the same name on the market.
You may have a name like com.myname.myapp.apk
Where "myname" is the same in every app you do.
If he take that, this is a major issue for you because you will be associated to him on every search (google.com, market...).
So, you will have to change your app name and maybe your company name....
Within 1 or 2 days, the market is parsed from androlib, androidzoom, appbrain... and it's done. Google.com will see those websites, and you are trapped.
You will have your buggy app on the market, some people will pay for that, the thief will have some money, and every users will have a bad opinion of your app.
Why DavinciDevelopers does this ?
To make benefit from your work.
Because he doesn't care you are working from a long time on your app.
Because he doesn't care if your work is ruined, he will find somebody else.
How can we be protected ?
Because 2 apps can't have the same name, you should put your app on the market first.
If your app is in development stage, you can upload it as "draft", so it will not be visible on the market, but the name will be locked.
Who is DavinciDevelopers ?
Somebody that have 83 apps on the market !
Almost all of them are themes.
If you look the package name you can see for example :
com.nd.android.pandatheme.p__3d_android_theme
at :
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-nd-android-pandatheme-p__3d_android_theme-qAmiz.aspx
google search : "pandatheme", first link :
http://home.pandaapp.com:888/
So he is not a developer. He makes themes with a free online tool and sell them... nice.
And for the real apps he uploaded (about 5), they all are stolen, coming from poland, germany, and other places.
Almost every of them comes from XDA dev forums.
ps : this message should be marked as sticky in every development section.
Wow, I can't believe this
It gets even better! Check this out:
http://www.androlib.com/android.app...ndroid-gand-gloftspaw-heroofsparta-zjCDi.aspx
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-gameloft-android-gand-gloftavar-avatar-zjCEx.aspx
He released the liquid physics live wallpaper I posted on here as well.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=878252
http://www.appbrain.com/app/liquid-physics/livewallpaper.liquid
Attacking GameLoft was a bad move for this/these guy(s).
They hit somewhere they shouldn't have I think.
Khoral said:
Attacking GameLoft was a bad move for this/these guy(s).
They hit somewhere they shouldn't have I think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He has ripped off Popcap as well
http://www.appbrain.com/app/zumas-revenge-hd/com.popcap.zumas_revenge
And MiniGore
http://www.appbrain.com/app/minigore-hd/com.ambushgames.minigore
So STICKY!!!
It's really funny the website slogan:
http://davincidevelopers.weebly.com/
Innovation is everything. WTF
What do you thing, does it matter to left a comment like: app is stolen,... Seller steals apps from real developers or something else in market for "his" apks?
I wrote an email to appbrain and told them about this: maybe they can at least exclude this person from appbrain???
Has anyone emailed him to let him know that we all know?
Dirtbags
Sent from your mom's phone
kiltedthrower said:
Has anyone emailed him to let him know that we all know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like they would care... they just want to make some quick money from other's work.
The only way we can solve this if somehow we contact google to do something about it.
Since yesterday, he deleted some apps from his market.
I'm the developer of iron soldiers, I had been notified yesterday by another xda forum user that he stole my app.
I emailed him and within 3 or 4 hours he removed the app.
He answered me that he is so sorry, that he shares his key with other people and he didn't know... blabla.
Anyway, he has many stolen apps so he is hard to believe.
Now I see that thanaos2042 created a new thread (thanks ) and that google already referenced it :
If you google "davincideveloppers", this post is already in the first page !
Internet has a memory, and his name will not be forgotten.
they sell a lot of apps which is 80++ but they still using free website ....what a cheapskate...
Holy ****. Mods, please sticky this!!
I sincerely hope Google kicks their ass for this. I'm not familiar with the ToS but I hope they get hit with a lawsuit and instant refunds to say the least.
Stealing from Indie Developers is simply ****ed up. Wouldn't it be funny if a massive attack was launched against this asshole's website? (wink wink)
Chalup said:
Stealing from Indie Developers is simply ****ed up. Wouldn't it be funny if a massive attack was launched against this asshole's website? (wink wink)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it wouldn't. He/they are using a free web host so that would effectively be an attack on a whole lot of innocent sites.
Terrible to steal!
stolen apps are all over the market, ive even seen the r2d2 live wallpaper from the droid, on the market for 99p,
Good to know about these flagrant ripoffs
Looks like someone took their website down. The link now shows a page that isn't published.
Edit: Looks like Google could do something about this since it appears to be a violation of the terms of service (see 11.4, 13.3 and 16)
11. Content licence from you
11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This licence is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.
11.2 You agree that this licence includes a right for Google to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.
11.3 You understand that Google, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users, may (a) transmit or distribute your Content over various public networks and in various media; and (b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this licence shall permit Google to take these actions.
11.4 You confirm and warrant to Google that you have all the rights, power and authority necessary to grant the above licence.
13.3 Google may at any time, terminate its legal agreement with you if:
(A) you have breached any provision of the Terms (or have acted in manner which clearly shows that you do not intend to, or are unable to comply with the provisions of the Terms)
16. Copyright and trade mark policies
16.1 It is Google’s policy to respond to notices of alleged copyright infringement that comply with applicable international intellectual property law (including, in the United States, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and to terminating the accounts of repeat infringers. Details of Google’s policy can be found at http://www.google.com/dmca.html.
16.2 Google operates a trade mark complaints procedure in respect of Google’s advertising business, details of which can be found at http://www.google.com/tm_complaint.html.
UPDATE: Mupen64Plus AE was taken down with DMCA by Brad Geng. He is NOT real developer of Mupen64Plus, more details below in third post of this thread, or here: http://www.paulscode.com/forum/index.php?topic=422.msg4593#msg4593
Some of you already know N64 emulator called Mupen64Plus Android Edition, by Paul Lamb.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1260390
His app is still free and open-source, and everyone can download APK if they want to, while "paid" version on Play Store is only donation and auto-update.
Now, here are some problems. Other "devs" are trying to make copies of his own work and make profit while they don't improve emulator unlike he does. It would be better that devs which want to help, they should collaborate with Paul, not fragment into new app.
One of very "popular" (his emulator was removed temporarily, then it returned to Play market, causing low popularity for now) and unfair copies is "N64 Emulator" by "Emulator Publisher" A.K.A. "Brad Geng".
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emudev.n64player
He just copied everything from Paul's work, and what did he added instead? ADS and PAID app links to his other programs.
THIS DEVELOPER CLAIMED FALSE DMCA VIOLATION, CITING A COPYRIGHT VIOLATION OF ORIGINAL MUPEN64PLUS. RATE IT 1-STAR AND WARN OTHERS, HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS TO PROFIT THIS WAY.
Description said:
It's the gist of OPEN SOURCE software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a note from Paul:
Paul Lamb said:
The true "gist"
Your comment on "gist of OPEN SOURCE" is misleading. Mupen64Plus AE is already free. It can be downloaded free on my forum as stated in the description. The 99¢ is for donations. If people buy without reading, its their decision. Donations I collect & distribute support many opensource projs & devs. By posting a free copy of my app, you undermine & have NEGATIVE impact on opensource community. Please remove this app!! Contact me to coordinate dev & address your concerns. Collaboration, not fragmentation!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What was the result before? An "dev" which added ads into that app, has over 500k downloads already, then removes app and returns it back to market. Yet, he takes down original version of emulator on market. Don't you think that's fair to steal and Paul's work and just publish it as yours, removing his work from market (yet even make Paul to refund all donations) and take all money away?
Yet, read comments in apps, all those who rated it 5 stars have no idea who actually made that app.
Another suspicious app is "N64 Pro Emulator" by "Game Console". Note: Name seems to change a lot of times...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.n64.emulator&feature=search_result
It seems he keeps changing it:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.n64.pro.emulation
Even if it's free and ad-free, and even says that people should donate to original developer, here's a problem.
Paul Lamb said:
I'd just like to warn everyone about some suspicious behavior of the Mupen64Plus AE copy listed on the Market as "N64 Pro Emulator" (installs as "N64 Mobile" in the app list).
Firstly, the app asks for wide sweeping permissions (stuff like GPS location, write access to the browser history and favorites, startup on boot, etc).
Additionally, when you close the app, it continues running and must be force-stopped through the settings menu (Mupen64Plus uses "System.exit( 0 )" to prevent this, so the dev must have deliberately changed this for some unknown reason).
Rebooting the phone and returning to the settings menu shows that the app has silently started itself on boot. This is EXTREMELY suspicious. If anyone has installed this app, I recommend removing it immediately! I've emailed the dev to have it updated, but until then I do not recommend installing it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For now, it's not yet safe to install app due to such permissions, as such permissions aren't actually even needed. Hopefully dev won't make it for bad behaviors. I'm not that sure how safe the app is, and I don't intend to give this version of emulator as rip-off copy yet.
This Emulator was taken down by Brad Geng.
And just poor rip-off is "Mojo64" by "Mojojo", no comment.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mojo.n64&feature=search_result
The only not taken down one is Brad Geng's very retarded emulator.
Others should know about this problem, it's not that fair that some dev gets less respect than others which did almost nothing than add ads or something misleading.
Out of all other emulators, none of such copies were fast as original Mupen64Plus, FYI.
If you still like those ripped-off apps and think they are original, wait when Mupen64Plus AE project stops (which hopefully won't stop). You'll realize what they have done.
There are lots of developers which have similar issues. Don't support fake copies of programs!
I agree that it is wrong to add junk such as ads to an opensource app, or make money from it when you don't contribute to it. Its an easy way to make money using someone else to do the work.
As Paul says in another post, donations to his original have now fallen significantly. This is just greedy copycat devs slapping together copies of his work to make money and get a better developer rep without putting in their own effort.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
For more information about the Google Play Market removal, Brad Geng has lodged a false DMCA complaint, resulting in Google removing my app from the Google Play Market. The text of that complaint:
AutoDetectedBrowser: Firefox 1
AutoDetectedOS: Intel Macintosh OS X
IIILanguage: zh-Hans
IssueType: lr_dmca
Language: zh-Hans
agree1: checked
agree: checked
companyname:
country_residence: CN
description_of_copyrighted_work: Mupen64plus
dmca_signature: Huaining Geng
dmca_signature_date_day: 30
dmca_signature_date_month: 3
dmca_signature_date_year: 2012
full_name: Huaining Geng
geolocation: CN
hidden_dmca_category: image
hidden_product: androidmarket
location_of_copyrighted_work: http://code.google.com/p/mupen64plus/
represented_copyright_holder: Mupen64plus
url_box_1:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.n64.pro.emulation
url_box_2:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=paulscode.android.mupen64plus.free
url_box_3:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=paulscode.android.mupen64plus
url_box_4:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=paulscode.android.mupen64plus.xperiaplay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What this basically says is that my apps (as well as "N64 Pro Emulator") are illegal copies of Mupen64Plus. This is a false claim, because Mupen64Plus is copyrighted by the GNU GPL v2, which clearly allows derived works to be created. Brad's copy has changed names a few times, but is currently called "N64 Player (Free N64 Emulator)". It is an exact copy of Mupen64Plus AE v1.7 with ads slapped on to make money. He's made a few updates to the GUI, but hasn't updated the source code in over a month (and he's ignored my requests for the updated code, which is a violation of the GPL). The obvious reason for Brad's DMCA complaint was to knock of all competition to his ad revenues he's getting from "N64 Player". I've sent a counter notification, but I have no idea how long it will take to process. For anyone interested, here is the text of my counter notification:
The DMCA complaint sites Mupen64Plus as the copyrighted work. It links to http://code.google.com/p/mupen64plus/ If you go to that website, you can clearly see under "Code license", that this work is licensed by the GNU GPL v2. This is a common open-source license which authorizes derived works to be created and distributed following certain terms. I have abided by all terms of this license. See http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html for more details. Finally, the individual who lodged the DMCA complaint, Brad Geng, has a copy of my work listed on the Google Play Market with advertisements slapped on it. This is the very work that he is complaining is in violation of the DMCA. Mr. Geng has it listed as "N64 Player". Clearly, he lodged this false DMCA complaint to remove my original work that he copied, and to eliminate all competition to his ad revenues. (Please note that the "Add an additional field" script is broken under "Material in Question". Please refer to the DCMA complaint for all three of my apps that were suspended)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everyone who agrees with me, please install "N64 Player" from the Google Play Market, leave a 1-star rating and nasty comment, and mark my rating comment as "helpful".
N64 Player was taken down. I don't have any details for why, but I'd guess it is was either taken down by Google after reading the numerous negative comments, or by Mr. Geng himself to end the onslaught.
time to go back to N64oid
Hey,
I have a question regarding to in app purchase system.
The google developer program policy says about in app purchase:
"Paid and Free Applications
• App purchases: Developers charging for applications and downloads from Google Play must do so by using Google Play's payment system.
• In-app purchases: Developers offering additional content, services or functionality within an application downloaded from Google Play must use Google Play's payment system as the method of payment, except:
o where payment is primarily for physical goods or services (e.g. buying movie tickets; e.g. buying a publication where the price also includes a hard copy subscription); or
o where payment is for digital content or goods that may be consumed outside of the application itself (e.g. buying songs that can be played on other music players)
Developers must not mislead users about the applications they are selling nor about any in-app services, goods, content or functionality they are selling."
The sentence I mark in red says that if I as owner of application, sell a package of notification with some information that the user need another app or program to actually use the information I can use another in app purchase system (i.e. paypal).
My question is:
Is the sentence in blue right?
Thanks in advance,
Shalom Melamed
Apple's iTunes affiliate program provides an incentive for bloggers, media outlets, other website owners and individuals to push traffic to iTunes and increase app/song purchases.
It seems as though an affiliate program for Android would serve Google in a number of ways including
1) more app purchases where Google keeps a revenue split
2) increased traffic to Google Checkout
3) solidify Google's Android market as the central place for apps vs. other upstart 3rd party markets
4) generate AdWords spend and
5) increased traffic to the Android market that could lead to better apps and a better overall Android experience relative to the iPhone.
:laugh:
Then Why doesn't Google have an affiliate program for the Android market?
Perhaps you should explain what apples affiliate program is and how it works in op
Sent from my C1905 using xda app-developers app
9harsh9 said:
Apple's iTunes affiliate program provides an incentive for bloggers, media outlets, other website owners and individuals to push traffic to iTunes and increase app/song purchases.
It seems as though an affiliate program for Android would serve Google in a number of ways including
1) more app purchases where Google keeps a revenue split
2) increased traffic to Google Checkout
3) solidify Google's Android market as the central place for apps vs. other upstart 3rd party markets
4) generate AdWords spend and
5) increased traffic to the Android market that could lead to better apps and a better overall Android experience relative to the iPhone.
:laugh:
Then Why doesn't Google have an affiliate program for the Android market?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since the person posting affiliate links, reaps some kind of benefit (typically a % of the sale), affiliate links are against xda rules on making commercial posts. If google started an affiliate program and it wasn't easy to recognize the affiliate links from non-affiliate links to the play store, then probably all links to the play store would have to be removed from xda...
Hi Guys, what are your thoughts about using app streaming to promote new games? Google, Amazon, Rovio have been working on it, and apparently a new startup called Nenli is also offering the service (they have a demo at nenlitech [dot] com). Basically, the idea is to make an app playable on web, so potential users don’t need to download (and pay) to try out apps. You can promote free trials of the full app by simply sharing and URL on social media, forums, app review site and your own landing page, and people can try your app instantly. Do you see such service as worth having if I were to advertise my Game? Thanks!
Duplicate. Please don't crosspost (ask the same question in multiple places). It's akin to SPAM.
Thread closed.