A custom ROM programmer has raised the ire of Google for the first time with its distribution of the CyanogenMod Google Android ROM; the main reason stated by Google is the inclusion of proprietary applications such as YouTube and Google Maps.
Following the sending of a cease and desist order to the makers of the ROM, Google reiterated its position of support for the modification and distribution of custom Android builds but not of Google’s proprietary applications. Google did stipulate that Android was designed and created with the premise of allowing developers free access to the source code in order to build upon it, it must retain its rights to proprietary applications in order to protect its financial interests.
The search giant said that Android was created to give any developer the ability to code compelling mobile applications and that Google uses the operating system in the same way. It too is a developer that wanted to create interesting proprietary applications for its Google services.
I’d love for Google to hand over the keys to the kingdom and let us all have it for free, but that’s not going to happen. And who can blame them. – Cyanogen’s developer
Cyanogen has changed tactics in his development, beginning work on a bare bones Android ROM that could still allow users to install Google applications via a backup of the original, full ROM.
