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Thread: Blackmailing on Google Play Store: False DMCA claiming to original content?

  1. #1
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    Exclamation Blackmailing on Google Play Store: False DMCA claiming to original content?

    I would like that someone to checkout these threads:
    http://www.paulscode.com/forum/index.php?topic=303.0
    http://www.paulscode.com/forum/index.php?topic=476.0
    http://www.paulscode.com/forum/index.php?topic=422.0
    Please read all pages. There were about 3-4 DMCA claims over this and about 5-6 email discussions explaining a bit.

    It's about Mupen64Plus for Android. The original Mupen64Plus team already is supporting Paul and they aren't doing anything against him. However, the problem is that original developer Paulscode is unable to publish his own work on Play Store because the chinese "developer" Brad Geng (which claims that original work is his work, not Paul's) keeps claiming false DMCA which is illegal. The problem is that Brad Geng is in China and counter-claim is not effective, neither is trial. The bigger problem is how come that Google just takes down that content without any knowledge and yet not even to return original version. Nobody can do anything, not even Mupen64Plus team. Isn't this just abusive?

    And just because of false claims, Paul's account has been banned. Now he's at least getting help from others to publish his work and tell the truth.

    The DMCA false claim info:
    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
    This is the original Mupen64Plus for Android. Note that it's differently repackaged, but there are no violations as developer published open-source work which can everyone compile, and it's properly licensed under GPL/LGPL (Though I don't understand a bit of licensing myself, I know there are no violations):
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=trev.android.mupen64plusae

    These are all versions by "Brad Geng":
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.n64.emulator.free
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zapp.freen64
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zapp.n64
    Problems in this? They are all violating ToS since Brad Geng claimed them as completely his own work (check DMCA claim info). Note that in new Google Play Store ToS it says that Airpush (Notification bar ads) are no longer allowed starting from next month. Even if it's not currently violating that, it's still very unfair. Brad Geng keeps profiting from everyone, while Paul almost had to refund all donations, which luckily didn't happen.

    Another reason why Brad Geng isn't suspended is that he keeps creating new account every time some of his apps get taken down by DMCA (Paul is still able to take them down, but takes longer time), and that's why Google doesn't even trace him to suspend him unlike to Paul.

    This thread explains what he's currently struggling on development:
    http://www.paulscode.com/forum/index.php?topic=514.0

    Here's another example of Brad Geng's false claiming (Post #9):
    http://www.paulscode.com/forum/index.php?topic=492.0

    Now, could anyone maybe help us to find out how to get a justice on this?
    At least someone from Spybot team to explain and help? Just to let you know that this is the very similar mechanism how Symantec, Trend Micro and others were trying to get rid of Spybot.

    Note: I might have made some mistakes while writing, sorry if there were some misunderstandings.
    Last edited by tashi; 2012-08-12 at 17:54. Reason: Parsed links

  2. #2
    Member of Team Spybot tashi's Avatar
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