Android Developers Unionize to Put Pressure on Google
As worker unions have been making big news around the United States lately, a group of Android developers have decided to band together in an effort to demand a better market experience from Google. The group, calling themselves the Android Developers Union, recently launched their own website and blog complete with a list of demands for Google and the rantings of some seriously ticked off developers.
Among the groups chief complaints is the percentage cut Google takes on applications sales. Currently, Google skims 32 percent off the top for their own coffers, a fee one developer so kindly details:
“Since I began developing Android applications two years ago, Google has collected over $14,000 in “service fees” as part of their 30 percent tax on all sales – and the only service they have ever provided me is a threatening letter.”
The “threatening” letter came after his app was pulled from the market without warning. Several attempts to get in touch with Google led to a response from the company stating they would ban his developer account if he were to violate market rules again, he claims.
Aside from the woes of developers and their demands, the actual fact that a union of sorts has been formed around app developers is quite a bold statement for the validity of this technology sector. Whether or not google heeds their cries is another story entirely.
[via TechEye]