&gt; He only wants distribution via Google...<p>Untrue. He only wants distribution through channels that provide the same security assurances and deployment features that Google does through the Play Store. [0][1][2]<p>He&#x27;s also quite open to replacing use of GCM with WebSockets or some equivalent tech, but if you don&#x27;t use GCM, the replacement is likely going to significantly reduce battery life of phones on cell networks. [3][4]<p>&gt; ...and even went as far to demand that free&#x2F;libre Play-alternative F-droid removed their build of TextSecure.<p>That&#x27;s because -in part- the F-droid project managers had (and -AFAIK, but I haven&#x27;t checked in quite some time- continues to have) <i>very</i> serious issues in regards to their APK signing key handling procedures.<p>Signal is GPL&#x27;d. <i>Anyone</i> can take the code and do what they like with it, as long as it conforms with the license terms. However, it&#x27;s <i>very</i> clear that Whisper Systems does <i>not</i> want people distributing Signal-branded builds on app distribution platforms that don&#x27;t provide Whisper Systems the security guarantees and management tools that they need to get their jobs done.<p>In short, you&#x27;re free to distribute custom builds of the Signal-Android, Signal-Desktop, TextSecure-Server, and Signal-iOS projects. However, it&#x27;d be nice of you to:<p>* Stand up an instance of the Signal server software on hardware you control, then point your builds of the Signal client software to your server.<p>* Rename the software that you&#x27;re redistributing, make up your own logo, and make it <i>abundantly</i> clear that -while your work is based entirely on Signal&#x27;s code- you&#x27;re neither operating with the explicit support of Open Whisper Systems nor are you likely to be providing the same security guarantees that they are.<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;127#issuecomment-13335689" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;127#...</a><p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;281#issuecomment-21762482" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;281#...</a><p>[2] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;127#issuecomment-13339504" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;127#...</a><p>[3] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;1000#issuecomment-45943940" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;1000...</a><p>[4] (see the reply to) <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;127#issuecomment-36169360" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;WhisperSystems&#x2F;Signal-Android&#x2F;issues&#x2F;127#...</a>