DashClock WhatsApp [4.3+] Removed from Play Store

DashClock WhatsApp [4.3+] have been removed from Play Store from Google, due to a DMCA complaint from WhatsApp.

No any warning or notification before their action.

It seem to related to the logo or the trademark I use in that app.
However Google did not explain it further, the only info is this email I received at 31 Jan 2014:

[email protected] to me         Jan 31 (5 days ago)

 

This is a notification that your application, DashClock WhatsApp [4.3+], with package ID com.tigerworkshop.dashclockwhatsapp, has been removed from the Google Play Store.

REASON FOR REMOVAL: Alleged copyright infringement (according to the terms of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act).

All violations are tracked. Serious or repeated violations of any nature will result in the termination of your developer account, and investigation and possible termination of related Google accounts. If your account is terminated, payments will cease and Google may recover the proceeds of any past sales and the cost of any associated fees (such as chargebacks and payment transaction fees) from you.

Please review the Developer Distribution Agreement and Content Policy to ensure that your applications are compliant with our policies.

The DMCA is a United States copyright law that provides guidelines for online service provider liability in case of copyright infringement. Click here for more information about the DMCA, and see http://www.google.com/dmca.html for the process that Google requires in order to make a DMCA complaint.

Google may reinstate your application into the Google Play Store upon receipt of a counter notification pursuant to sections 512(g)(2) and (3) of the DMCA. Click here for more information about the requirements of a counter notification and a link to a sample counter notification. If you have legal questions about this notification, you should retain your own legal counsel.

Please note that we have included a text copy of the Infringement Notice we received for your reference.

The Google Play Team

Text copy of DMCA complaint:

subject_lr_dmca: Your Request to Google
full_name: Anne Hoge
companyname: WhatsApp, Inc.
represented_copyright_holder: WhatsApp, Inc.
contact_email_noprefill: [email protected]
country_residence: US
location_of_copyrighted_work: The WhatsApp logo and trademark is being
infringed upon.
description_of_copyrighted_work: The apps reported in this complaint
infringe upon WhatsApp, Inc.’s intellectual property rights by using
WhatsApp logo or a variation of the logo, along with its trademark. Such
activity is not authorized by WhatsApp, Inc.
hidden_category:
url_box:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.padmob.whatsapptheme
url_box:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsappoffline.notification
url_box:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wiquiet.whatsapppassword
url_box:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapplastseen.offline
url_box: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dg.wapc
url_box:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tigerworkshop.dashclockwhatsapp
url_box:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.surcoentertainment.WallpapersHDb
url_box:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.surcoentertainment.ChristmasWallpaper
url_box:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ucai.guasapalwhatsapp
url_box: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jacklee.wadual
dmca_affirmations_authorized: agree
dmca_affirmations_penalty: agree1
signature_date: 1/9/2014
signature: Anne Hoge
hidden_product: googleplay
hidden_ctx:
geolocation: US

:—- Automatically added fields —-:
Language: en
IIILanguage: en
auto-helpcenter-id: 1647639
auto-helpcenter-name: legal
auto-internal-helpcenter-name: legal
auto-full-url:
https://support.google.com/legal/contact/lr_dmca?product=googleplay
auto-user-logged-in: false
auto-user-was-internal: false
IssueType: lr_dmca
form-id: lr_dmca
form: lr_dmca
subject-line-field-id: subject_lr_dmca
body-text-field-id:
AutoDetectedBrowser: Firefox 26.0
AutoDetectedOS: Desktop Windows NT 6.1

 

Plus it seems impossible to re-publish apps removed by Google, except signing a legal document claiming that I would bear all legal consequences (Which I certainly won’t).
Therefore existing user can keep using it, but I won’t able to publish update or fix anymore.

Currently I have no plan to re-publish it until I can fully understand what’s wrong with that app.

For new user, please consider DashNotifier for similar or even better solution.

Update: Google have pulled my another extension and I decide to removed all extension by myself.