How to report a Copycat app to Google Play

GetDescriptionAndDownloadScreenshots.py

import sys
import os
import requests
from bs4 import BeautifulSoup

print(open("desc.md").read().replace("com.newpipe.protube", sys.argv[1]))  #desc.md should contain the arguments why the copycat is actually a copycat
print("\nhttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=" + sys.argv[1])

html = requests.get("https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=" + sys.argv[1] + "&hl=en").text
soup = BeautifulSoup(html, features="lxml")

for png in os.listdir("."):
    if png.endswith("png"):
        os.remove(png)

alreadyFoundUrls = set()
for img in soup.findAll("img"):
    if 'alt' not in img.attrs or 'src' not in img.attrs:
        continue
    alt, src = img.attrs['alt'], img.attrs['src']
    if alt in ["Icon image", "Screenshot image"] and not src.endswith("=s20") and src not in alreadyFoundUrls:
        alreadyFoundUrls.add(src)
        filename = "icon.png" if alt == "Icon image" else f"screenshot{len(alreadyFoundUrls)-1}.png"
        open(filename, "wb").write(requests.get(src).content)

Steps to report the app.md

Below you can find the steps to report a copycat of your FLOSS app to the Google Play Store.

Google play takedown form: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/contact/takedown

Reporting for copyright seems to be taken more seriously. Apps are generally taken down after just a few days.

You may want to use the script below in order to generate the description and download the screenshots automatically.

Reason for flagging

Other objection

Please explain briefly why you flagged the app

Here is an example description taken from Newpipe, you can take inspiration from it if you wish (max 1000 characters)

The OFFICIAL NewPipe app is a free and open source application licensed under the GPLv3 license, whose source code is available on GitHub at https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe . The app on Play Store, com.newpipe.protube, is an UNAUTHORIZED COPY of the official NewPipe app. That's because the GPLv3 license requires source code to be available to users who download the binaries/APKs (see lines 34 to 38 of the license, available here: https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe/blob/dev/LICENSE#L34-L38 ), but the source code of com.newpipe.protube is not available anywhere. Moreover, GPLv3 requires that changes to the original source code are documented (see lines 210 to 215 of the license), but their source code changes are not published. The features provided by com.newpipe.protube also violate the Google Terms of Service for publishing on Play Store, since it allows watching YouTube videos, also in background, without using the official YouTube APIs.

Attach a screenshot to help troubleshoot your issue

Upload a screenshot of the Play Store listing, then download the app logo and all of the app screenshots from there and uploaded them here, too.

Is the application still available on Google Play?

Yes

• Location: insert the country from which you can see the app on Play Store
• Application package name: the last part of the Play Store url, e.g. the.copycat.package

Personal information

• Email address: use your (gmail) email address
• Name: use your full legal name (I am not sure if it required though)

General report content form: https://support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/1114905

This form has worked when someone tried to take down a copycat of Dicio from Play Store. Before understanding what the person reporting the app meant, they had to ask him a few questions, so providing that information right away might help taking down copycats faster. Actually, the response email asking for more details is probably always sent regardless of the amount of details provided in the initial form. So probably it's less time consuming to just use the "Google play takedown form" instead.

Select the Google product where the content that you are reporting appears

Google Play - Apps

Select the reason you wish to report content

Legal reasons to report content Relating to country/region-specific laws, such as privacy or intellectual property laws

If you were to select the other option here, you would be brought to the Google takedown form I'll mention below

Select the reason you wish to report content

Intellectual property

Select the reason you wish to report content

Copyright: Report unlawful use of copyright-protected work

Are you the copyright owner or authorised to act on his/her behalf?

Yes, I am the copyright owner or am authorised to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed

What is the allegedly infringing work in question?

Other

Create Request

Tap on Create Request.

You get redirected to https://support.google.com/legal/contact/lr_dmca?product=googleplay

Personal information

Country of residence: use your country of residence
Full legal name: use your full legal name
Company name: do not insert anything here
Full legal name of the copyright holder you represent: use your full legal name
Contact email address: use your email address

Your copyrighted work

Here is an example description taken from Newpipe, you can take inspiration from it if you wish.

The OFFICIAL NewPipe app is a free and open source application licensed under the GPLv3 license, whose source code is available on GitHub at https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe . The app on Play Store, com.newpipe.protube, is an UNAUTHORIZED COPY of the official NewPipe app. That's because the GPLv3 license requires source code to be available to users who download the binaries/APKs (see lines 34 to 38 of the license, available here: https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe/blob/dev/LICENSE#L34-L38 ), but the source code of com.newpipe.protube is not available anywhere. Moreover, GPLv3 requires that changes to the original source code are documented (see lines 210 to 215 of the license: https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe/blob/dev/LICENSE#L210-L215 ), and com.newpipe.protube surely has made some changes to the original source code because they have added ads, but their source code changes are not published. The features provided by com.newpipe.protube also violate the Google Terms of Service for publishing on Play Store, since it allows watching YouTube videos, also in background, without using the official YouTube APIs. Therefore the content that is infringing upon my copyright is the whole Google Play Store listing of com.newpipe.protube, including the binaries/APKs being published by the owner of the Google Play Store listing (user WittyTech). The application should be removed from Play Store in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. I have attached a screenshot of the Play Store listing, the logo of com.newpipe.protube (which is also an unauthorized copy of NewPipe's official logo) and also the in-app screenshots provided by the developer WittyTech.

Where can we see an authorised example of the work?

Add a link to your source code repo (Github, GitLab, Codeberg, etc...) Add a link to your listing in F-Droid if any Add a link to your website if any

Allegedly infringing URLs

The url to the Play Store listing of the copycat app. Should be something like: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=the.copycat.package

You can report multiple apps at the same time here.

Attach a screenshot of the allegedly infringing material

Upload a screenshot of the Play Store listing, then download the app logo and all of the app screenshots from there and upload them here, too.

Sworn statements

Review and tick all checkboxes.

Signature

Your full legal name, again