Washington, DC - The Digital Citizens Alliance, a consumer-oriented coalition focused on educating the public and policy makers on the threats that consumers face on the Internet, put out the following statement on reports that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is building criminal cases against those who engage in content theft of versions of thousands of apps for Google's Android operating system.
"Apps developers are at the vanguard of the economy and have created over 450,000 jobs since 2007," said Digital Citizens Alliance Executive Director Tom Galvin. "They are often one-person shops or very small companies driving American innovation. That is why it's important for law enforcement to crack down on those that steal the works of apps developers. These developers deserve protection from thieves. By prosecuting those that distribute pirated versions of thousands of apps for Google's Android operating system, the DOJ is sending a message that content theft will not be tolerated."