Over the weekend, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) removed six fake Google apps from the Windows Phone Store, after a query raised by the NextWeb. The apps in question include “Hangouts,” “Google Voice,” “Google Search,” “Google+,” “Google Maps,” and “Gmail – email from Google.”
“We removed a series of apps for violating our policies concerning the use of misleading information,” a Microsoft spokesperson told TNW. “The apps attempted to misrepresent the identity of the publisher.”
Fake apps from Google, Inc
All these apps published by “Google, Inc” and not the real “Google Inc.” and are priced at $1.99 each. As of now, Google only offers its search app for the Windows Phone, and the publisher is “Google Inc.” The fake apps were initially noticed by WinBeta.
“Microsoft takes the intellectual property our ecosystem seriously and we use several layers of deterrence and response to help protect it. First, we encourage developers to take advantage of obfuscation tools for an added layer of protection,” the software giant said. The company, further, said that the Windows Phone Store is an authorized source of public apps and games, which makes it easy for developers to scan for any fake apps.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) makes it available for developers various tools to help them identify and report infringement of any apps on the Windows Phone Store. Also, Windows Phone instructs developers even before the app is submitted by “reminding them in our developer agreements and policies that Microsoft does not permit infringement of intellectual property of others.”
Checks not adequate from Microsoft
As of now, the Windows Store has 152,301 apps versus 150,581 apps, last week. The top five apps on the Windows 8 platform in U.S. are Facebook, Skype, Asphalt 8 Airborne, Google Search, and VLC. The best five paid apps are Theft Auto San Andreas, House of 1000 Doors Collectors Edition, Halo Spartan Assault, Wheel of Fortune, and SiriusXM Player. On the other hand, the Windows Phone Store has more than 245,000 apps available.
Despite the statement, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has failed to address the basic concern of how the apps made it to the store. The fact that the apps were available on the store proves that the checks in place are not adequate.
