Google indeed does not like anyone interfering with its ad business. While there are plenty of ad blockers now popping up on the iOS App Store, Android’s ad blocking capabilities are either reduced to complete browsers built for that purpose (AdBlock Plus), or plug-ins that are limited to third party browsers. Obviously Google would not like to kill its ad business by allowing a plugin to work with native apps on its own device, which is something startup Rocketship Apps learned the hard way.
The startup’s Adblock Fast plugin, shot to fame because it was the first plugin to work with Samsung’s built-in browser that is available as a native app on Samsung devices. The app upon being uploaded quickly peaked on the Google Play Store soon after which Google noticed it and it was pulled down.
The Verge had a word with Rocketship developer Brian Kennish who commented that the company’s plug-in violated the Google Play Developer Program Policies that developers are expected to adhere to. In this case it was section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement that prevents apps or plugins offered through the Play Store from interfering or blocking devices, networks and services of third parties. In short, the app prevented the Samsung browser (a native app on a device powered by Google) from displaying ads, which was bad news of the developer.
Indeed the way out of this mess is to create a similar plug in for a third-party browser or create an ad blocking browser instead, which is what AdBlock Plus eventually did after being rejected from the Store in a similar manner. Odd bit in this case is that Samsung helped Rocketship Apps build the plugin, so clearly someone forgot to read the memo.
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