Microsoft is taking steps to improve its Windows Phone Marketplace, notifying developers this week that it’s keeping an eye out for trademark abuse and bulk app submissions that reduce the quality of the experience for end users.

The company is also promising to apply a more “stringent interpretation” of its existing ban on apps that are “sexually suggestive or provocative” in nature.

“Specifically, we will be paying more attention to the icons, titles, and content of these apps and expect them to be more subtle and modest in the imagery and terms used,” writes Todd Brix in a post outlining the changes. “Apps that don’t fit our standard will need to be updated to remain in the store.”

He continues, “This is about presenting the right content to the right customer and ensuring that apps meet our standards. We will also monitor customer reaction to apps and reserve the right to remove ones that our customers find offensive.”

Brix cited these app icons as examples of acceptable imagery.

“Admittedly, it’s tricky catering to such a wide range of people and markets,” Brix writes. “But we take this responsibility seriously and evaluate and discuss questionable cases.”

Of course, Microsoft isn’t alone in restricting sexual content in its app store, an area where Apple led the way. The Verge has more on the broader updates in Microsoft’s policy.

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