Popular Android Theming App Pulled From Google Play Due to Apple Complaint Over iOS 7 Skin [iOS Blog]

Google has pulled Themer, a popular Android home screen customization app, from its Google Play Store following a complaint from Apple over one of the themes included in the app.

“Seven”, one of more than 200 themes within the app, was designed to make an Android phone look like an iPhone running iOS 7. It incorporated multiple Apple design elements and several icons, including Phone, Mail, Messages, Maps, Music, and more.

Image courtesy of Lifehacker
Though the app and the theme have been in the Google Play Store since at least October, Themer was removed on February 2 for copyright infringement following a copyright complaint from Apple. Given the app’s resemblance to iOS 7, it is no surprise that Apple, a company that rigorously defends its property, asked for the theme to be removed.

According to Themer CEO Ashvin Dhingra, who spoke to TechCrunch, the Seven theme was immediately removed from the app following Apple’s notice, but Google opted to remove the app from its Play Store entirely and has yet to restore it.

“We’ve spoken to legal representatives from Apple (who have been very nice, reasonable, and helpful), and they have no remaining concerns. But apparently, Google has a process for these things, and there’s nothing we can do to accelerate that process. Unfortunately, we still have not heard from anyone at Google.”

While Themer has been able to settle its dispute with Apple by removing the offending iOS 7-style theme, the company is running into some organizational hurdles with Google. Google seems to lack a point of contact overseeing the Google Play Store, which has resulted in Themer contacting multiple people with little result.

It remains unclear when Themer will return to the Google Play Store, but Apple’s issue with the app has been successfully resolved.