UPDATED 10:32 EDT / APRIL 06 2011

NEWS

Google Removes Grooveshark App, Prepares for Music Services

Violation of copyright law comes again into spotlight. A few weeks ago we covered Android developers’ inquietude over Android’s attitude towards pirated games available in the marketplace. Google did not seem too bothered on the growing numbers of pirated games added up in the marketplace that not only violate copyright law, but also increase the chances of malware. The last possibility, not only threatens the security of users who download such games/apps, but it might as well ‘contaminate’ other apps in the marketplace.

Yesterday, Google withdrew Grooveshark’s music app from the Android Market, after EMI, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group accused the service as operating illegally. History repeats itself as last year in August, Apple removed Grooveshark from the Apple Store after having received copyright infringement accusation from the same music companies. It would have been wiser of Google to foresee all these potential issues, since back in 2009, EMI filed a suit against Grooveshark, the music sharing service, for violating the copyright law and the latter agreed in the end to license the label’s catalog.

Google is currently playing for high stakes as the company wants to launch its own streaming music service. Google started testing the service 2 weeks ago. For more info on what this app features, check this site.

With such plans in mind, Google is doing everything to keep itself legal.  The removal of Grooveshark’s app took place on the eve of its House Judiciary hearing, where Google general council Kent Walker is scheduled to testify.  Google’s under investigation for profiting from pirated content, by allowing alleged pirate sites to post Google ads.

For Google, the company will need to continue to make changes to and defend its algorithms and profit structures, especially now when competition is at its highest. Amazon launched last week its online music storage service, Amazon Cloud Drive, at competitive prices. In a month’s time, Baidu, the largest search engine in China, serving over 100 million registered users, will launch a licensed music search service. Baidu has the same reputation as Grooveshark regarding the as non-abiding copyright laws, but is trying to change that image.


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