License/copyright violation (copycat apps)

[avipars]

I wasn't sure what licence this app was under because it's not written on the github page, but after compiling, it seems to be under the GPL3 which means that 3rd parties shouldn't be able to republish the app and monetize it.

I found this app in the play store, and there may be one or two more copycat apps, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bestenworld.memecreater

What actions can be taken against these guys?

[gsantner]

Readme and license both say GPLv3, yeah.

Yeah, he's not allowed because he made changes without giving sources on request.

I did mail him and reported on Google Play.

[avipars]

Also this guy https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=zainaftab.skynetlabz.com.memecreator

It's a shame how hard you work to build something, and then these devs take the source code, remove the licence and some features and then publish it with ads.

[gsantner]

My Mail for future cases:

MemeCreator - License violation - Google Play

Hi there,

I were made aware of your MemeCreator on Google Play (),
which is a copy of the App MemeTastic (https://github.com/gsantner/memetastic),
developed by me and contributors, licensed GPLv3.

You are not allowed to publish the app without handing out
source code/changes to build the app. (You added Ads and removed neccessary credits,
About, Info,..). Also you need to keep and show required copyright notices.
You can obtain a copy of the GPLv3 license here: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html

You MUST either hand out the code and show copyright notices, or remove the app.
For more details see https://github.com/gsantner/memetastic#licensing .

I'm awaiting a answer soon.

Takedown notice text:

A simple MemeCreator for Android. It is an GPLv3 licensed app, developed by me and contributors on GitHub.
It features a simple and ad-free experience for creating memes by image templates, camera & gallery pictures.
The infringing apps don't show or removed copyright notices (including mine those of contributors, of used libraries), do not tell the used license (GPLv3), and do not hand out the source code (or the changes) as required by the license, so they violate the terms of the app's license. Some didn't even change app name or icon, or just copied the description too.

Infrigning: All apps are a copy of MemeTastic violating and not complying with the terms of the project's license. Please remove these apps from Google Play Store.


Thee apps seem to use mostly code of MemeTastic from the codebase starting from v0.9.7, which code can be found here: https://github.com/gsantner/memetastic/tree/v0.9.7

https://github.com/gsantner/memetastic/blob/master/README.md
https://gsantner.github.io/#MemeTastic
https://f-droid.org/packages/io.github.gsantner.memetastic
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.github.gsantner.memetastic

List of apps following the rules

• --

List of reported

• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vong.domain.com.imemes
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generate.funny.memes
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funny.creator.memes
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.manisware.memecreator
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.memecreator.tamil_new

List of mailed only

• ~

List of infrigning content down

• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bestenworld.memecreater
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=zainaftab.skynetlabz.com.memecreator
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keesadens.fullmemecreator
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.memegenpro
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generator.maker.meme
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.studio.andrew.com.memerstastic
• https://codecanyon.net/item/funny-meme-memes-generator/20011946
• https://www.codester.com/items/4097/meme-generator-android-app-source-code

[avipars]

It's only really worth targeting apps with over 1000 downloads. I am wondering if you can ask for their ad revenue as damages.

Anyways , I was searching and found a few and did report them to Google,but forgot to get their links. I don't mind going back and finding a few. Some of these apps are blatant copycats, while others take out one or two elements. If I were in your shoes, I would try to get the attention of a developer relations team member at google and help them file complaints about these apps. In addition to them taking your code, they also are displaying those images , and some may have legal ownership issues.

On Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 13:30 Gregor Santner [email protected] wrote:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keesadens.fullmemecreator

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/gsantner/memetastic/issues/17#issuecomment-315719381, or mute the thread https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AFd7fzzNUOxpKeqt_2fwdpoN3HYiC2P5ks5sOzfMgaJpZM4OZsGn .

[avipars]

Here is another big one. Over 10k downloads. I have not reported this to google yet. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.memegenpro&hl=en

[anburocky3]

Someone is selling the source @ codester https://www.codester.com/items/4097/meme-generator-android-app-source-code

[gsantner]

@anburocky3 Thanks, didn't know about that patform too

[Poussinou]

So many copyright violations here o_O If I see one of them, can I report directly to Google or not, since I'm not the owner of the source code?

[gsantner]

@Poussinou you can take all actions available, excluding DMCA takedown notice needs to be done by me.

When opening the app page inside android google play store there should be a report->copyright option which can be used by everybody

[Poussinou]

Ok thanks for this informations.

[Poussinou]

@gsantner Another one here ?

[gsantner]

its a apk mirror out of play store app

Seems like MemeTastic have grown into a really nice project. Too bad not much people know it yet. (In terms of both, users and contributors). It is really bad but at the same time somewhat a honor too to see people copying it. Maybe some posts in social networks (d*, fb) can push the project. I reserved the app-id on play store too, but I'm currently not thinking of activating it. I think valuable and serious critics are easier to get and manage here

[gsantner]

As there are some people subscribed are to this issue:

I'm suggesting you to take a look at these issues (and maybe give some feedback if in interested)

• https://github.com/gsantner/memetastic/issues/26
• https://github.com/gsantner/memetastic/issues/24#issuecomment-322845445

Feel free to join community discussion too:

[Poussinou]

Memetastic is a great app, I use it a lot :) if you want to keep your app for the free/open-source world, it's your choice ;) activating your app on the Play Store could also be a solution to "kill" all this fake apps, but choice is yours ;)

[gsantner]

Yeah, that of course, but Im searching for a better name, thats why I created a issue about it. maybe community has an idea about a better name :).

And the other one is about, if assets should be bundled with the app, or downloaded seperatly. This would reduce size of app update and memory

[Poussinou]

Here is another big one... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appsogen.meme.creator

[Lonami]

I flagged it as a copy cat (although I couldn't provide them further information like a link here), thanks!

[Poussinou]

@gsantner will fill the DMCA takedown request, as usual, I think 👍

[Poussinou]

Another one here : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fidev.memegenerator

And also this one : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=memely.meme.generator.maker

[gsantner]

And also this one : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=memely.meme.generator.maker

Haftungsausschluss: Meme Generator basiert auf einem Open-Source-Meme Maker und lizenziert unter der GNU General Public License

This one seems to be not the usual copycat-non gpl respecting dev.

[gsantner]

Btw, it's called DMCA takedown notice. Gun control law <--> illegal gun possession are too two different things.

And I always first contact the app's developers and give them some time to fix the problems. While I had a low success rate at this, still one already did it's best to comply, and in the end that is all I want. "Their" apps can and should be online if they comply accordingly (but yet most don't do).

[Poussinou]

I agree with you, if they comply with GNU GPL, their app should be kept online, but I want to see their source code...

[Poussinou]

Another one here (and so this one) and here.

There is also this one. It looks like this copy complain with the GNU license since they still provide the source code in the app.