14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has officially started pulling the plug on apps that use the word “Windows” in their names, as the company is trying to prevent copyright infringement, and at the same time, avoid confusion in the Microsoft Store.
The first app removal warnings were sent earlier this month when Microsoft required developers whose apps included “Windows” in their names to pick a different moniker in order to avoid having them unpublished.
German Windows blog and community WindowsArea was one of those who received the notification, and because no changes were made, its official app was removed from the Microsoft Store.
“Your app has been unpublished. We reviewed your app, found something that needs to be fixed, and unpublished it. For more details about what needs to be fixed and how to republish your app, see our findings in your report,” a new message emailed to the developer reads.
At first glance, this is something that makes little sense, especially in the case of a Windows community whose app has to use the word “Windows” in the name to reflect its purpose.
Google and Apple are doing it too
But Microsoft isn’t doing anything different from rivals Google and Apple who are both trying to protect intellectual property using a similar policy.
App requirements published by Apple for developers forbid developers to use the Apple word mark as part of the product name and state that “the reference to Apple must not create a sense of endorsement, sponsorship, or false association with Apple or Apple products or services.”
The same for Google, who says that “Android or anything confusingly similar to Android cannot be used in names of applications or accessory products, including phones, tablets, TVs, speakers, headphones, watches, and other devices,” and developers are instead required to use the phrase “for Android.”
Microsoft hasn’t publicly commented on the controversy created by its new app removal policy, but we’ve contacted the firm and will update the article if an answer is offered.