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>Maybe Amazon's Android store will allow the emulators back in? If the speculation that these emulators were pulled because they were infringing on GPL code is

>Maybe Amazon's Android store will allow the emulators back in? If the speculation that these emulators were pulled because they were infringing on GPL code is correct, I wouldn't count on it.

lotusleaf1987 15y ago
It seems like the timing is too coincidental/coordinated with the Sony Xperia Play phone launching. Why would you buy games from the PSN store when you can buy an emulator for $8 and then get the games for free? It's in Google's interest to keep Sony happy, more than it is a few developers. Google also leaves a loophole because you can still side-load the apps.
- commandar 15y ago
  If Google's goal is getting emulators off the market, they're doing a pretty poor job of it: https://market.android.com/search?q=emulator&so=1&c=apps https://market.android.com/search?q=emulator&so=1&c=...
  - lotusleaf1987 15y ago
    Great point, then maybe avree (above) is correct and the code was indeed stolen.
- T-R 15y ago
  That's a fair argument regarding PSX4Droid, but I doubt that's the case with this group of emulators. Sony doesn't have any relationship with the SNES or the Genesis, so with the exception of maybe a few ported games, it's doubtful they'll be selling that IP on their own store. In fact, the controller on the Xperia Play would make those emulators a pretty compelling reason to buy it. I'd wager this was related to either ROM distribution or violating the license on the emulator code.
- dspillett 15y ago
  I doubt this is about "keeping Sony happy" specifically. It might be that Sony is the entity that raised the infringements to their attention, if the reports of GPL infringement and other "non-commercial use" licensing issues are correct. Why would Sony be defending GPLed code? Possibly following "the enemy of my enemy can at least be used to inconvenience my enemy" rule. Though there is no evidence that a high profile company is behind the take-down at all - it could well be that one or more of the open source projects caught wind of their code being used in breach of their chosen license and complained to Google and that the timing of Xperia's launch is a coincidence.

>Maybe Amazon's Android store will allow the emulators back in? If the speculation that these emulators were pulled because they were infringing on GPL code is correct, I wouldn't count on it.

lotusleaf1987 15y ago

It seems like the timing is too coincidental/coordinated with the Sony Xperia Play phone launching. Why would you buy games from the PSN store when you can buy an emulator for $8 and then get the games for free? It's in Google's interest to keep Sony happy, more than it is a few developers. Google also leaves a loophole because you can still side-load the apps.

commandar 15y ago
If Google's goal is getting emulators off the market, they're doing a pretty poor job of it: https://market.android.com/search?q=emulator&so=1&c=apps https://market.android.com/search?q=emulator&so=1&c=...
- lotusleaf1987 15y ago
  Great point, then maybe avree (above) is correct and the code was indeed stolen.
T-R 15y ago
That's a fair argument regarding PSX4Droid, but I doubt that's the case with this group of emulators. Sony doesn't have any relationship with the SNES or the Genesis, so with the exception of maybe a few ported games, it's doubtful they'll be selling that IP on their own store. In fact, the controller on the Xperia Play would make those emulators a pretty compelling reason to buy it. I'd wager this was related to either ROM distribution or violating the license on the emulator code.
dspillett 15y ago
I doubt this is about "keeping Sony happy" specifically. It might be that Sony is the entity that raised the infringements to their attention, if the reports of GPL infringement and other "non-commercial use" licensing issues are correct. Why would Sony be defending GPLed code? Possibly following "the enemy of my enemy can at least be used to inconvenience my enemy" rule. Though there is no evidence that a high profile company is behind the take-down at all - it could well be that one or more of the open source projects caught wind of their code being used in breach of their chosen license and complained to Google and that the timing of Xperia's launch is a coincidence.