Online piracy - and enforcement - hits apps

It was bound to happen at some point, given the rapid diffusion of smartphones and tablets, and the popularity of apps.

  The U.S. Justice Departments IP Task Force, in conjunction with French and Dutch authorities have seized three website domains for allegedly trafficking in pirated Android apps.  What happens with a domain seizure is that U.S. authorities work with Internet domain name servers to block access to the websites (replacing original content with a home page announcing the seizure), and where they can, they also seize website content on the servers that host them and try to arrest the site operators.  However, due to the nature of the Internet, site owners and operators are often outside US jurisdiction, or are hidden behind layers of fake names or companies.  Domain seizures have had a somewhat mixed record in terms of actually doing anything to slow down piracy or trafficking in counterfeit goods, and have at time seized websites in error.
  Still, this seems to be the first anti-piracy action directed at the unauthorized copying and sale of apps.  App developers have been worried for some time about the potential piracy of Android apps.

A 2011 survey of 75 Android developers by the Yankee Group and Skyhook Wireless found that more than half believed Google wasn't doing enough to prevent app piracy. Last month, developer Matt Gemmell also laid the blame at Google's feet: "People pirate Android apps because it's easy."

Google has implemented some additional security and encryption measures in newer Android licensing system and for apps sold through Google Play, but developers are concerned that these efforts aren't extended to all app developers and purchase platforms.  There is also some concern over whether Google's measures will be sufficiently hamper piracy and unauthorized copying of their apps.

Source -  Android App Piracy Leads Feds To Seize Websites,  Information Week