I'm so confused with Google Play Review Team

[susu]

After 2 years, I'm trying to publish new app to Google Play Store. And for new beginning, I made a simple app which is a collection of wallpapers of my favorite football/soccer star: Lionel Messi.

Yesterday, I submitted my app and today I receive email from Google Play Review Team. They rejected my app because of an unauthorized use of copyrighted content. They suggest me to "remove any content owned by a third party from your app. Your hi-res icon, launcher icon, and app store listing contain images of Lionel Messi".

I'm really confused because before making this app I searched many times on Google Play Store, there're many many apps just like my app. Here the links of some:
1. Messi Wallpaper 2014 (more than 500,000 downloads)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.namusatesoft.messiwallpaper

2. lionel messi puzzle (more than 100,000 downloads)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mikemedia.lionelmessipuzzle

3. Leo Messi Screen Off and Lock (more than 50,000 downloads)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.origin.apps.messi.screen.lock

4. Wallpapers de Messi (more than 10,000 downloads)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mess.wallpapers

All these "Messi wallpaper apps" contain images of Lionel Messi in their hi-res icon, launcher icon, app store listing... But they're safe and did not remove or reject by Google Play Review Team!!!
If I do what they suggest (remove all images of Messi) so what will remain in my app? I'm in an endless circle now.

I read their information about Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Content in Developer Policy Center (link). They have example of copyrighted content that is often used without authorization:
- College and professional sports team logos.

And once again I found another apps that break their policy.
1. Football: logo puzzle quiz (more than 1 million downloads)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.madrabbit.logoquizzlefootball

2. 1. Scratch Football Logo Quiz (more than 1 million downloads)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.enrasoft.scratch.football.quiz

3. Logo Football Club Quiz (more than 100,000 downloads)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truemindgame.quizlogofootballclub

So what can I do now? "Fight" with their Review Team by re-submit my app (and my developer account will highly get banned) or just forget it? Did you have any experience with this problem? Could you please share with me?

Thank you so much.


Ps: I submitted my app to Amazon App Store too and they just accepted right away.

 

[An Schi]

Seems like Google is on something....

Yesterday my app was banned from the playstore for unauthorized use of copyrighted content. They didn't give me a hint what exactly i used which isn't allowed or protected. It has been in the market for nearly three years.

I don't know where you got your Messi pics from, maybe you took pictures you weren't allowed to use. And it is no argument, that there are other apps in the store which use pictures as well.

At least i know about my app: It is a fan app for a local music festival in germany. I know the promoter and i am allowed to use all of the festivals artwork/logo/name etc. The pics i used for the bands which play there are all promotion pics which are especially declared to be used for publications and public relations. And other stuff isn't used in the app.
I wrote an appeal that i am allowed to use anything which is in the app. Now i am waiting for a reply. But i have a bad feeling....

 

[susu]

I don't know where you got your Messi pics from, maybe you took pictures you weren't allowed to use

All images are from internet and I wrote in description:
"All images are downloaded from internet. We are not connected or affiliated with the brands/clubs/players. Please inform us if an image needs to be removed."

I wrote an appeal that i am allowed to use anything which is in the app. Now i am waiting for a reply. But i have a bad feeling....

If you have some proofs I think they will lift the ban. Goodluck!

 

[sorex]

Must be Messi that's after more money to pay his overdue taxes after his deposits to Panama

photos are always a risk I guess but like you wrote there are thousands of others that do the same thing.

 

[melonZgz]

I think you have to be very careful with the images you use in your app/game.
You can't just pick an image from a google search and use it, as you don't own the rights. Some of them aren't for public domain. You have to be sure that those aren't copyrighted images, or if they have a license. Thsere is no problem if they are licensed as CC0, or CC-BY if you atribute the original author of the image.
It is weird. I've seen games in google play using the original Super Mario World backgrounds and tiles, games with thousand downloads and generating profit as there are ads.
I think soon or late Google will ban the app and the author. Better play safe and don't give Google arguments to get banned...

 

[sorex]

Maybe they are doing a spring clean up?

 

[moster67]

Maybe they are doing a spring clean up?

Lol

 

[moster67]

So what can I do now? "Fight" with their Review Team by re-submit my app (and my developer account will highly get banned) or just forget it?

@susu
I wouldn't argue too much. They have valid arguments (even if others are doing the same as you) so better be careful, my friend.

 

[susu]

@susu
I wouldn't argue too much. They have valid arguments (even if others are doing the same as you) so better be careful, my friend.

It's not fair but they don't care. You're right, I can't fight with them. I just forget it and start to making new app.

 

[sorex]

Their admob team is friendly tho and giving advice to make the required changes.

I guess you have the right to ask (polite) for a reason why others were allowed to do the same thing.

 

[An Schi]

See second post here. I wasn't given the smallest hint where my violation of copyright is.
In addition their appealform says that you shall not ask for advices on how to make the app meeting the requirements.

Was polite anyway and wrote that i was personaly allowed.
Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst...

 

[susu]

Their admob team is friendly tho and giving advice to make the required changes.

I guess you have the right to ask (polite) for a reason why others were allowed to do the same thing.

Why Admob? I think it's better to ask Review Team but I can't find their email (even on Developer Help Center).

 

[sorex]

@an shi : that's very annoying aspecially for a festival app.

@susu : I was just pointing out that they can act human like. Not sure if you can do the same for the reviews. Apparently not according to An Shi's post above.

 

[LucaMs]

I guess you have the right to ask (polite) for a reason why others were allowed to do the same thing.

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