Google Attacks Microsoft Windows Phone YouTube App

Google has sent Microsoft a “cease and desist” letter, demanding it withdraw the YouTube app it proudly launched for Windows Phone a week ago.

Microsoft launched a native app for Google’s YouTube service last week – somewhat to everyone’s surprise, since it had been complaining to both the European Commission and the US Federal Trade Commission that Google was blocking such an application.

The move apparently took Google by surprise: it has responded swiftly with a demand that Microsoft withdraw the app. Google claims the app breaks the terms of the YouTube service by blocking adverts, thereby removing revenue from Google and its content providers. Microsoft has until next week (22 May) to comply with the demand.

YouTube video wars

“Unfortunately, by blocking advertising and allowing downloads of videos, your application cuts off a valuable ongoing revenue source for creators, and causes harm to the thriving content ecosystem on YouTube,” says the letter, which is quoted by The Verge.  The letter demands that Microsoft “immediately withdraw this application from the Windows Phone Store and disable existing downloads of the application by Wednesday, May 22, 2013”.

Apparently the app was created without Google’s consent or support, and includes features, specifically designed to block YouTube adverts.

The move is just one more example of the troubled relationship between Microsoft and Google, which has been rumbling under the surface in recent months.

Microsoft is rushing out an update to Windows Phone, which will allow users of the platform to continue to access Google services. Google had cancelled Exchange ActiveSync support, and Microsoft has had to scramble to implement Google’s alternative  CalDAV and CardDAV protocols in Windows Phone 8.1 – an update which users assume will also be applied to existing Windows Phone 8 devices.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is running a “Scroogled” marketing campaign against Google’s privacy policies, alleging the search giant is playing fast and loose with users’ datq.

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