Google Blocks Microsoft’s YouTube App For Windows Phone

Google has blocked Microsoft’s YouTube app on Windows Phone. The two companies have been at odds with one another over Microsoft’s creation of an application that circumvents Google’s own terms of use rules.

In a public statement, Google writes:

“Microsoft has not made the browser upgrades necessary to enable a fully-featured YouTube experience, and has instead re-released a YouTube app that violates our Terms of Service. It has been disabled. We value our broad developer community and therefore ask everyone to adhere to the same guidelines.”

In a past dispute, Microsoft agreed to comply with Google’s demands by first removing and then redesigning its app. The newly redesigned offering installed previously omitted advertising features from the YouTube platform.

The new Windows Phone YouTube app arrived last week but uses reverse-engineered ad code that Google that still violates the YouTube terms of service agreement.

After the app was removed from circulation, Microsoft acknowledged that its YouTube platform is being blocked by Google.

According to Microsoft engineers, they are working with the search giant to resolve any outstanding issues.

At this time, Microsoft’s YouTube app for Windows Phone is not operational, and both companies have failed to give an ETA for the next iteration of the platform.

Do you think Google was right in removing the unauthorized YouTube app from its platform?