Google pulls down another ‘rogue’ app

NEW DELHI: A “rogue” lending app, Udhaar Loan, which thrived using a name resembling another app, was taken down from Google PlayStore on Tuesday for violating the technology giant’s “trademark” policies.

Udhaar Loan used to offer credits at extremely high interest rates and resembled the name of a genuine Indian startup, Udhaar, to build its credibility, a phenomenon that researchers say is quite common.

Udhaar provides alternate credit scoring mechanisms for “underserved individuals”. Udhaar’s co-founder Ravi Sethia had filed a complaint with Google nearly a month ago about the “rogue” lending app, stating it copied the name of his organisation, which the firm’s founders had trademarked in 2016.