Latest Google Play suspension underscores the need for better developer relations
Google strikes another one down with little to no sensible cause. Popular theme developer “the1dynasty” has had their Google Play developers’ account terminated due to what Google says is a failure to comply with their terms of use. According to the developer, Google issued them notices about several of their apps over copyright issues, all of which had some form of “Android” or “Google” in the package name or app name. That bit isn’t surprising — Google almost zapped Phandroid’s wares for the very same reason. They simply don’t want people to use Android in app names in a certain way so as to not confuse people into thinking these are “official” Android apps.
The problem this go ’round is that the developer didn’t fight the issue with Google. They complied immediately, and unpublished every single app Google submitted a complaint about upon receiving the notices. All seemed to be well until the big guys in Mountain View decided to terminate his entire Google Play account (seemingly after the 14-day grace period they now give you to make necessary changes). The developer writes:
Well, its officially official… My developer account has been terminated… Even with the themes that violated the Terms were removed, I am still hit with this automatically created email.
Said email states:
This is a notification that your Google Play Publisher account has been terminated.
REASON FOR TERMINATION: multiple violations of the Content Policy and Developer Distribution Agreement as outlinedd in previous emails sent to the registered email address of your Publisher account.
Please note that Google Play terminations are associated with developers, and may span multiple account registrations and related Google services. If you feel we have made an error, you can visit the Google Play Help Center article for additional information regarding this termination.
Please do not attempt to register a new developer account. We will not be restoring your account at this time.
The Google Play Team
Nothing surprising or out of the ordinary — just your typical canned response. This effectively erased his existence on Google Play. That this happened even after complying with Google’s request only adds fuel to what has become a nasty fire, with said fire being Google’s lack of proper developer relations.
The gentleman suspects Google has an automatic flagging system that finds apps with the word “Android” in their name and sends notices to violating developers, but Google’s automated emails and actions indicate the could be automating more than just the initial flag. Where’s the conversation between the developer and a moderator or administrator? Where’s the explanation and the chance to show Google that they’ve attempted to make things right?
Google’s reputation as a lax company when it comes comes to developer relations seems to be a double-edged sword. The good end of the sword is in the initial publishing of apps. Google’s screening system is famously more lax than their competitors. Apple, for instance, manually screens and approves every app that comes to their app store, which not only delays publishing but presents a chance for the app to be denied entrance. On the other hand, Google allows apps to appear in the Google Play Store almost as soon as developers upload them with no real review process to be had. They’d prefer to bust apps after the fact.
The downside to such a lax stance is when it comes to making sure a developer’s livelihood isn’t affected. Their “attack first, ask questions later” method of flagging and removing apps and terminating accounts is a very scary situation for developers who’ve relied on Google Play to afford a meal every night. It’s also a frustrating ordeal for the users downloading the apps.
To a bit of Google’s credit, it’s easy enough to appeal a decision to terminate an account and get back onto the road of recovery, but why should it have gotten this far? Why doesn’t Google provide an email address for developers manned by an actual human being to contact upon receiving Google Play violation notices? Why wasn’t he able to show Google that he removed the apps upon receiving the notices to avoid having his account terminated in the first place? And who’s to say the appeal will even work out (our own experiences suggest he should be able to get this sorted, but you never know)?
It’s a problem that’s probably never going to be 100% rectified in the near future, but we’re of the opinion that Google could be doing a lot more to help out the very folks who’ve allowed them to build as big of a software ecosystem as they have. Let’s hope this gentlemen finds his way in due time (otherwise we could be losing his awesome talents to the iOS customization scene).
[via Google+]