Google has unceremoniously axed Grooveshark’s music app from the Android Market after music labels accused the service of violating copyright law.
Although Mountain View refused to divulge any real details, the company did tell CNET it routinely removes apps from the Market that “violate” official policy.
To be perfectly fair, Apple also ditched the application after receiving complaints from music companies, so obviously, Google isn’t alone in enforcing its Market policy.
So, what is Grooveshark?
Well, the application offers access to free music – over 6 million songs – by enabling users to post their own tracks and share them with others.
Unsurprisingly, Grooveshark was forced to license EMI’s catalog in 2009, following accusations that the service was in brazen violation of copyright law. A similar legal suit was filed by Universal Music Group just months later – which is still pending.
As Cameron Summerson of Android Police notes, it certainly hasn’t been an easy road thus far for Grooveshark.
“Most record labels feel that it promotes piracy by allowing users to upload and share their own tracks. It is unfortunate that this is the way things must be, but Grooveshark isn’t ready to die just yet,” he writes.
“The developer said that they are investigating alternative methods for distributing the application, which means that they will likely offer the app as a direct download.”
