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Distributing apk files of free apps

mitk0o0o0

mitk0o0o0

Member
Hello. I was wondering, is it ok/legal to share .apk files of free games and applications? I see many many blogs and websites that even offer paid ones but my question goes towards the free ones. A specific blog I know has been up for a pretty long time now and it keeps getting tons of visitors daily with getting into no trouble.

Let's say I find this cool app from the market and I back it up to an apk file, upload the apk file to a file host and post it to a blog, and ofcourse below it a link to the market page. Would it be ok? Reason for that is, some people don't have data plans and arent near a WiFi spot. So that will save the person a lot of time by just transferring the file to his phone and installing it.
 
Don't know about the legalities IANAL, but I'd be very suspicious of APKs found on a blog. How do I know they're safe, that they haven't been nobbled with and contain a malicous payload?
 
mikedt said:
Don't know about the legalities IANAL, but I'd be very suspicious of APKs found on a blog. How do I know they're safe, that they haven't been nobbled with and contain a malicous payload?
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Well now that is up to the person if he wants to risk or not. Btw, would an anti-virus software keep you safe when installing applications downloaded outside the android market?
 
mitk0o0o0 said:
Well now that is up to the person if he wants to risk or not. Btw, would an anti-virus software keep you safe when installing applications downloaded outside the android market?
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I've only vary rarely installed software from outside the Android Market, Google Play, or whatever they call it now. Then it's only come from a place I actually trust, and not some blog. Same with PC software, I only install software from websites I trust, like a software maker's site.
 
Regardless of how much it costs unless the person who puts it up is the dev or has permission by the dev to put it up and distribute the app that way I would consider it warez and stay away from it.

The only way I would believe it was put up by the dev or with his/her permission is if they sent me the link. Otherwise there is no telling if the app has been tampered with. Also if you sideload an app it will not be updated via the market so when new features are added or patches are released you would fail to get them.
 
Yeahha said:
Also if you sideload an app it will not be updated via the market so when new features are added or patches are released you would fail to get them.
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May be because I have root, but I keep seeing Amazon Market apps in Google Play. They wont update as I did not purchase them there, but free ones would.

Root users can also "Attach to market" using titanium backup, although the OP's point was because they have no data plan / wifi hotspot, its easier to download from a computer.

That doesn't quite make sense though, as they would need their computer, which has to have an Internet connection to download it, which means the phone too could have.
 
At my place almost everyone has internet with optic (or was it fiber) cable and no router with an antenna but some boxes that are attached outside where 3 to 4 houses are connected. There are only a few that have routers with antennas but they have them secured with passwords, making it impossible for me to connect, it's a good thing there's data plans. :o

Well thanks for the answers.
 
SUroot said:
yup

Turn Your Windows 7 PC Into a Wireless Hotspot
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I don't seem to have an ad hoc option in there. Guess I need to buy a wireless card?

Also, on another android blog I found, I saw this diclaimer:
"All the games, themes, software and other resources in this blog ( ******** ) are reproduced from the forum or blog.If any violation of your copyright, please inform, we will remove within 24 hours. "

Is that really gonna keep them off trouble?

My intention is actually to post apk of free apps, I don't want developers to lose money who offer theirs for $$
 
I don't think that policy would protect them really. I can host a movie on my blog for streaming with that disclaimer but it would still be piracy.

I would suggest if you want to do that then contact the devs for permission before hosting. Some may let you others may not want that to happen since they may want to keep track of their downloads.
 
That disclaimer is minimum needed to establish good intentions.

However, depending on what copyright holder was crossed, it won't save a site from legal action.

OP, I totally get that you are talking about free apps. I get that you intend no harm.

But free has nothing to do with copyright. Off the top of my head, I can think of 4 free apps that if their owners caught you posting, would take full legal action against you.

Trust me, part of what I do here as a mod is to keep us clean on copyrighted material.

I think that your proposal is a path that you can live to deeply regret, very deeply regret.

But you do what you think best.

PS - email the devs involved. If they give you a green light first, you'll be square.
 
Yeahha said:
I don't think that policy would protect them really. I can host a movie on my blog for streaming with that disclaimer but it would still be piracy.

I would suggest if you want to do that then contact the devs for permission before hosting. Some may let you others may not want that to happen since they may want to keep track of their downloads.
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You're right. But what I think is stupid is that he can take legal actions over something he has no loss for it's distribution. I personally would feel honored if people shared my app around other places as long as they also post a link to my market page or my development site which is what I also intend to do.


EarlyMon said:
That disclaimer is minimum needed to establish good intentions.

However, depending on what copyright holder was crossed, it won't save a site from legal action.

OP, I totally get that you are talking about free apps. I get that you intend no harm.

But free has nothing to do with copyright. Off the top of my head, I can think of 4 free apps that if their owners caught you posting, would take full legal action against you.

Trust me, part of what I do here as a mod is to keep us clean on copyrighted material.

I think that your proposal is a path that you can live to deeply regret, very deeply regret.

But you do what you think best.
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Well I will follow the suggestions posted, I guess I could try contacting the developers first. About 4 days ago I asked the developers of Ninja Chicken for posting the .apk file and they said they prefer for now that I should reffer people to the market page.
 
Ninja'd my ps edit. :)

Devs have to worry about reputation, agreements with others, etc etc.

Don't take it personally, it's not just anal retentive behavior by them at all. Often there may be issues that they may be uncomfortable discussing.

I am rather sure that none of it is personal. ;) :)

PS - many of the newer Android wifi settings will allow a DLNA or auto-ip setups without a router. Those will work with an ad-hoc network.
 
EarlyMon said:
Ninja'd my ps edit. :)

Devs have to worry about reputation, agreements with others, etc etc.

Don't take it personally, it's not just anal retentive behavior by them at all. Often there may be issues that they may be uncomfortable discussing.

I am rather sure that none of it is personal. ;) :)

PS - many of the newer Android wifi settings will allow a DLNA or auto-ip setups without a router. Those will work with an ad-hoc network.
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Already e-mailed a few, I doubt they will allow but ah well, better to be safe than sorry. If they don't let me I won't.

But still, for the ad-hoc thing I will need to setup the hardware, right? Because right now when I go to setup a new network I don't have that option. That is actually an awesome thingy :P I will definitely buy it to have my phone connected everywhere around my house.
 
I mean no offence but only a fool would download more then 1 or 2 of the programs you can only get from outside one of the trusted markets.

just like bogus websites full of PC viruses, people can't wait to trip you up for their own fun or profit.

[like sys config]
 
350X said:
I mean no offence but only a fool would download more then 1 or 2 of the programs you can only get from outside one of the trusted markets.
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This blog about the galaxy y, it gets 100+ visitors daily because it offers paid apps for free. It seem it's been up since late 2011 and no one has done any copyright claims. Same goes for other blogs with apps and games, I see their hitcounters and revolver widgets, lots of people daily. That's what attracts people to blog, unfortunately mine with just reviews and tips & tricks gets nothing no matter what I try. :(
 
@mitk0o0o0
What ,why and how a blog gets hits is totally random and it doesn't have to do hosting apk files .
There are many blogs which cater to news and reviews .
My personal preference is the site/blog with least or no ads preferably Wordpress blogs .

I am just curious to see your blog ,post a link and I will check it out :) .
 
Actually, not all countries can get the android "play market" (still sounds moronic...). I have downloaded free apps from market to my phone and have uploaded them to my dropbox or sent them via email. I am not "mass distributing" them....
 
mitk0o0o0 said:
This blog about the galaxy y, it gets 100+ visitors daily because it offers paid apps for free. It seem it's been up since late 2011 and no one has done any copyright claims. Same goes for other blogs with apps and games, I see their hitcounters and revolver widgets, lots of people daily. That's what attracts people to blog, unfortunately mine with just reviews and tips & tricks gets nothing no matter what I try. :(
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So, your motivation for help on how to do this is about hits?
 
mitk0o0o0 said:
This blog about the galaxy y, it gets 100+ visitors daily because it offers paid apps for free. It seem it's been up since late 2011 and no one has done any copyright claims. Same goes for other blogs with apps and games, I see their hitcounters and revolver widgets, lots of people daily. That's what attracts people to blog, unfortunately mine with just reviews and tips & tricks gets nothing no matter what I try. :(
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How do you know there haven't been copyright claims? That is piracy and I would think they have received claims and either ignored them or took down the offending material. This is a prime example of what you shouldn't consider a "trusted source" since said site is providing free access to paid apps you have no knowledge of if they have modified the apk files at all and could include malicious code within. It has happened before the first thing that comes to mind is the dog fighting app that was hacked by PETA Controversial Android Dogfighting App Infected with Pro-PETA Malware | HULIQ
PETA Supporters Modify Dog Fighting App To Embarrass Its Users | WebProNews

sherri said:
Actually, not all countries can get the android "play market" (still sounds moronic...). I have downloaded free apps from market to my phone and have uploaded them to my dropbox or sent them via email. I am not "mass distributing" them....
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If you are in a country without access to the official play store you can try alternative markets that have a different reach than Google's. SlideME | Android Apps Market: Download Free & Paid Android Applications and GetJar | Mobile | both work in countries that the play store has a limited reach both would be ways to try to get legit apps from developers without relying on untrusted sources ;)
 
EarlyMon said:
So, your motivation for help on how to do this is about hits?
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No It's just I feel like I am doing something pointless if no one is viewing my posts in that blog, it's just me who browses it mostly and that is a waste of time. :(

@ karandpr - I'm not familiar with rules about advertising so I will PM you the link.

@ Yeahha - Well wouldn't the website be down and possibly the owner in court? Because he seems to post minimum 4 new games or apps per day. :rolleyes:
 
mitk0o0o0 said:
@ Yeahha - Well wouldn't the website be down and possibly the owner in court? Because he seems to post minimum 4 new games or apps per day. :rolleyes:
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Possibly but probably not. Depending on where the hosting is and where the site is registered it can change plenty of things. There are hundreds of warez sites out there, if it was easy to get them taken down there wouldn't be as many ;)
 
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