Google is set to pull down the Android Apps of 42 TV companies from around the world after US company Rovi, laid claim to the name ‘TV Guide’ and the layout that delivers information about TV programs that are found in apps on both the Apple Apps store and Google’s Marketplace Store.SmartHouse has obtained a letter that has been sent to the 42 companies that operate in Australia, UK, Spain, Poland, Holland, Indonesia, France, Germany and several South American and Asian countries.
The letter obtained by SmartHouse, was sent by Ethan Tyler Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Google in the USA that the TV companies are deceiving consumers as to the origin and sponsorship of their TV program listing service.
Lawyers for Google claim that the TV companies, which include the likes of Foxtel in Australia which is part owned by Rupert Murdoch’s company News Corporation, are violating both US State and Federal laws by using the name TV Guide.
According to the letter Rovi has demanded that Google immediately terminate the Android application and the use of YP5 software which is used to develop the application.
Colin O Brien the CEO of Ice TV in Australia said: “Google has now taken our IceTV Android app down and threatened us with further action. Just because we use the words TV Guide. Rovi are either suffering from nationalistic megalomania, their legal counsel has lost the plot or they are deluding themselves as to how they can control the TV guides of the world”
A separate Google message to Foxtel and Ice TV says: “Please note that notices concerning content in your app may result in action taken against any associated AdSense or AdMob accounts and repeated violations may result in a suspension of your Android Market Publisher account”.
Some of the TV companies to have been sent Google letters are:
TV Guide + Movie Guide (Au) by Ebroadcast Pty Ltd
TV Guide – Ireland by Guillaume Vaudaux-Ruth
Greek TV Guide by Ionnis Papadakis
Polish TV guide by Kapati.net
TV guide soccer by Paco B
TV Guide Italy by Allessandro La Rosa
Dansk TV Guide by Carsten H Larsen
TV-Guide Widget 2.0 (Spain) by Javak Android-Spa
Word Cup 2010 TV Guide by Avinash Meetoo
See Copy of letter and full list of companies named in attached PDF.
