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Google Chrome Extension Gallery treads lightly on copyright issues
Unlike Mozilla's add-on site for Firefox, it appears as though things are going to run in a slightly more Apple-esque fashion.
Developer Deepesh Agarwal submitted a Chrome port of his Firefox add-on Easy YouTube Downloader. Google declined to approve the extension, saying "Unfortunately, there are a few cases where legal restrictions or contractual obligations prevent us from hosting an extension(*). One of those cases is with certain kinds of video downloaders..."
That policy is clearly spelled out in the TOS, of course:
Hey, this is Google's baby, after all, so I'm not really surprised they don't plan to publicly exhibit extensions designed to play Google-hosted content offline (and beyond the reach of AdSense and Analytics). On top of that, Google has been careful of late when it comes to playing nice with rights holders.4.4.1 You agree that you will not engage in any activity with the Gallery, including the development or publication of Products or other materials, that [...] enables the unauthorized download of streaming content or media.
And don't forget, .crx files can be installed from any old website. Chromeextensions.org has been up for months and will no doubt be the place to go for non-sanctioned extensions. Like video downloaders.
Comments
7
Subscribe to comments216Dec 4th 2009 9:01AM
hmm well i guess Chromeextensions.org will have a legit reason to still exist once the official extension site opens up
ShaliniDec 11th 2009 11:53AM
Yeah certainly, for users looking to download YouTube videos in FLV, MP3, 3GP, MP4, 720p and 1080p FULL-HD video qualities on Google Chrome can now get the Easy Youtube Video Downloader from Chromeextensions.org here :
http://www.chromeextensions.org/music-videos-photos/easy-youtube-video-downloader/
r3loadedDec 4th 2009 9:27AM
And here's the fundamental difference between Apple's App Store and Google's Chrome Extension gallery - if you don't like their rules, you can still host your extension and install it from somewhere else.
Sgt ZeppelinDec 4th 2009 1:24PM
You can still use apps that Apple hasn't approved, you just have the added step of jailbreaking. So is Google going to allow ad-blocking extensions? I feel like that would interfere with their "contractual obligations".
r3loadedDec 4th 2009 1:25PM
Yes, but jailbreaking isn't an approved process - it actually voids your warranty. Google on the other hand couldn't care less if you install extensions from elsewhere.
ProlornDec 4th 2009 10:26PM
@Sgt Zeppelin: What "contractual obligations"? With their ad-buyers? I don't think they are under any obligation to ensure that ads are shown. It's in Google's interest to get ads shown, since they won't get paid otherwise, but I don't see how Google could be faulted if users decide to block ads.
I'm not sure how you think Google would stop users from installing ad-blocking extensions, either. It's perfectly reasonable for Google to reject such extensions from their extension gallery, but I don't believe they would stop extensions hosted elsewhere.
The Extension Gallery is Google's private showcase, but they seem perfectly willing to let users experiment elsewhere.
ShaliniDec 4th 2009 9:26PM
If Google is not policing the content which gets uploaded on Youtube why so much control on the extension gallery.
Thanks