Yik Yak kills 3rd party app Yodel in the Windows Phone Store

Yik Yak is an iOS and Android app and service which lets users anonymously leave messages which can only be read by those within 5 miles of your location, who can then upvote and downvote them.

As is often the case the company did not have a Windows Phone app, which created an opportunity for developer Nicholas Narsing, who created a 3rd party app Yodel which has attracted more than 30,0000 users and which was also open-sourced by Nicholas.

Unfortunately the app has now been removed from the Windows Phone Store, after a Cease and Desist which can be seen here.

The letter complains that Yodel’s access to the service is unauthorized, that by calling itself a Yik Yak client it was infringing Yodel’s intellectual property  and that its sleek interface is an emulation of Yik Yak’s own:

In the face of the legal challenge Nicholas has of course complied and unpublished the app from the store, writing on Github:

Recently, I received a cease-and-desist letter from the legal firm representing Yik Yak, Inc. demanding that I discontinue distribution of Yodel or face legal action.

I maintain that my work was fully legal and permissible. However, I do not have an opportunity to debate the claims made against me without fighting them in civil court, and as Yik Yak and their lawyers no doubt deduced before employing this threat, I currently lack both the time and resources to do so, so I have no choice but to comply with their demands.

The C&D letter I was sent is included here in this repository for your perusal.

To my 30,000 users and everyone who helped out and sent in bug reports, thank you so much. You guys have been awesome. I’m truly sorry to be letting all of you down.

-Nicholas <soren121>

This type of action is of course not uncommon, and hardly ever means an official app is on the way, and should be considered by those who question the morality of side-loading Android apps on our Windows Phones.

Users of the app may want to let Yik Yak know how they feel about the action on Twitter, Facebook and via email here.