This article is more than 1 year old

Google AXES AndroidScript app used by 20,000 STEM coders WITHOUT WARNING

Mountain View is paranoid about 'Android', apparently

Google has removed a free educational app, dubbed AndroidScript, from its Play store, for breaching the ad giant's terms and conditions.

According to the app's developer, Dave Smart, Mountain View abruptly yanked AndroidScript from its online shop without notifying him of the decision in advance.

"Apparently we are in violation of the terms and conditions because we are using the word 'Android' in our title rather than 'For Android'," he said.

"The crazy thing is that if they had told us about the issue we could have changed the title quite easily!"

Cambridge, England-based Smart – who told The Register that the app had recently passed 50,000 downloads – has appealed against Google's decision.

He told the multinational:

AndroidScript is an EDUCATIONAL tool and is currently used by over 20,000 young people worldwide in STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] coding clubs and schools and at home. Since it is an Android programming tool, it seems quite legitimate for it to contain the word 'Android' in its title.

If I really have to change the title, then so be it, but it will hurt the progress of the application and also damage the community of young developers that has built up around it.

Smart added:

I am a STEM ambassador in the UK and tried to do something good for the world ... Please don't stamp on my efforts!

He said that Google's sudden decision to kill access to the app on its Play store was potentially damaging to the reputation AndroidScript had built up with its community of young coders.

"We cannot use the same package name if we re-publish, we would need to start from scratch with no user ratings and no account records and no standing in the Google Play store," said Smart.

El Reg sought comment from Google to find out why it hadn't told Smart about its decision before pulling the plug. At time of publication, we were told by a spokeswoman at the company: "Looking into this for you now".

We'll update this piece once we have heard more from Google. ®

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