My site is connected to the PlayStore through a webview.https://masakor.com I recently submitted an update, but it was rejected for the following reasons.
Policy
Provides an in-app system for reporting objectionable UGC and users, and takes action against that UGC and/or user where appropriate;
Provides an in-app system for blocking UGC and users;
There are many people suffering from the same problem in Korea, my home country. please tell me what I need to do.
I'll do it.
Add reporting and blocking to customer reviews.
Should I be able to block certain members here?
Related
I've come across a collection of android apps that utilise a questionable practice.
With the help of misleading ads user gets tricked into buying an app via SMS service (with prices up to 10 EUR). Afterwards the user then can enter an activation code in the free app distributed on Google Play store.
The entire operation is in grey-area, because it is the user itself who sends the SMS and is responsible for the cost. Due to the nature of the ads, its mostly unsuspecting older people that get tricked into this, because they assume that they must do it or they'll have problems with their device.
In app functionality being sold outside of the app store would most likely be a violation of Apple Store and the app could be reported.
I am wondering if there's similar rules for Play Store, so that this practice could be reported to Google.
The short answer is that Google allows this practice for now, but they are already working on changing it. From my experience, Google allows devs to use any payment/licensing model that their app requires. However, this is subject to change and the end results will be something similar with Apple's policy.
From their support page, it seems that from January 2021, they require that all new apps will use the GooglePlay IAP API. Existing apps have until the end of September to make the switch. As with any other policy, there are some exceptions, but please check the official page to receive the correct information.
2 years ago, I have received 2 email from google in the same day ( check below ). How many violations/strikes does my account need now to get suspended indefinitely ?
This is a notification that your application submission, xxx,
for package ID com.xxx.xxx.xxx, has been rejected. If
this submission was an update to an existing app, the version
published prior to this update is still available on Google Play.
Please address the issue described below, then submit an update with
your changes.
REASON FOR REJECTION:Violation of the Google Play content rating
policy.
These guidelines apply to all content in your app, including user
generated content, in-app products, and advertisements.
After a regular review, we’ve determined that your app has an
inaccurate content rating. Please retake the content rating
questionnaire for your app and resubmit your app for publishing.
All submission rejections are tracked. Repeated rejections due to
policy violations will result in app suspension, at which point this
app will count as a strike against the good standing of your developer
account and no longer be available on Google Play.
If you feel we have made this determination in error, you can submit
an appeal on the Google Play Help Center.
The Google Play Team
We’re always looking for ways to improve. Please share your feedback
on Play policy notification emails by completing this brief survey.
This is a notification that your application, xxx,
with package ID com.xxx.xxx.xxx, has been
suspended from the Google Play Store.
REASON FOR SUSPENSION:Violation of the impersonation or deceptive
behavior provisions of the Content Policy. Please refer to the
impersonation policy help article for more information.
If you are authorized to publish on behalf of the original content or
brand owner, please contact us via the Google Play Help Center and
attach verifiable and accepted proof of permission.
This particular app has been disabled as a policy strike. If your
developer account is still in good standing, you may revise and upload
a policy compliant version of this application as a new package name.
This notification also serves as notice for other apps in your
catalog. You can avoid further app suspensions by immediately ensuring
that no other apps in your catalog are in violation of (but not
limited to) the above policy. Please also ensure your apps’ compliance
with the Developer Distribution Agreement and Content Policy.
All violations are tracked. Additional suspensions of any nature may
result in the termination of your developer account, and investigation
and possible termination of related Google accounts. If your account
is terminated, payments will cease and Google may recover the proceeds
of any past sales and/or the cost of any associated fees (such as
chargebacks and transaction fees) from you.
If you feel we have made this determination in error, you can visit
this Google Play Help Center article.
Only a suspension counts as a strike on your account. Right now you have one suspension. If you get two more suspension your account will be terminated.
I am providing the detailed reply from Google for app violation
Below is the content got from Google when i tried to update my application which is in prod for the past 1.5 years kindly help me with any solution thanks in advance
REASON FOR REMOVAL: Violation of the spam provisions of the Content Policy. Please refer to the keyword spam policy help article for more information.
Your title and/or description must not attempt to impersonate or leverage another popular product without permission.
Do not engage in "keyword stuffing" by loading app descriptions with keywords out of context.
Do not use irrelevant, misleading, or excessive keywords in apps descriptions, titles, or metadata.
This particular app has been disabled as a policy strike. If your developer account is still in good standing, you may revise and upload a policy compliant version of this application as a new package name.
This notification also serves as notice for remaining, unsuspended violations in your catalog, and you may avoid further app suspensions by immediately unpublishing any apps in violation of (but not limited to) the above policy. Once you have resolved any existing violations, you may republish the app(s) at will. Before publishing applications, please ensure your apps’ compliance with the Developer Distribution Agreement and Content Policy.
All violations are tracked. Serious or repeated violations of any nature will result in the termination of your developer account, and investigation and possible termination of related Google accounts. If your account is terminated, payments will cease and Google may recover the proceeds of any past sales and the cost of any associated fees (such as chargebacks and payment transaction fees) from you.
If you feel we have made this determination in error, you can visit the Google Play Help Center article for additional information regarding this removal.
The Google Play Team
--------------------------------------------
Regards
Gopi.cs
read over the policy stated in the REASON FOR REMOVAL and try to follow the best practice that they state : https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/2985717?hl=en
Is it officially allowed (or tolerated at least) by Google to do it?
I've got some users suggesting to me that it could be a good idea to add a one click 'donation button' opening up their default Android bitcoin wallet app with my bitcoin adress pre-filled.
But hey, I don't want to see my apps suspended just because of this!
Did you see some apps or widgets doing this yet on Google Play?
The same question could be asked about Paypal donations I guess...
Thank you to share your opinion.
I don't know what Google's official policy is for certain, but a donation should be no problem. In theory.
http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html only mentions that any purchase of in-app benefits must be handled via Google's in-app billing system.
https://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement.html#pricing-payments says essentially the same in legalese.
So as long as donors do not buy/gain anything, not even a thank-you or honourable mention, and that is made clear in your app, you're in theory safe. Disabling ads for donors is for example easily a violation of those terms.
The rules are however Google's to interpret and enforce. And sentences like
The Payment Processor must process all fees a Developer receives for any version of a Product distributed via the Store.
in 2nd link can easily be applied to donations if the app-review person sees fit, even just because he/she misinterpreted the donation button or
If Google decides that your donations are actually fees, they can & will suspend your app (probably without prior warning & time to fix the problem). There are cases of this you can find on the internet.
There is an appeals form you can find here: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/2477981 but the answer in practice seems to be "No. Don't ask again.".
Also be aware that Google counts violations and can ban you as a person (not just your current account) from publishing apps on the Play store.
The answer to the question is: NO.
You can't accept bitcoin tips or donations in your Android app, even it is free.
The same is applied for any kind of payment processor, including Paypal.
This because it violates our payments policy.
Policy Issue: Payments
Alternative payment mechanisms to Google Play's in-app billing service
are only permitted if the products purchased are to be used outside of
the app. For example:
For physical goods or services, such as movie tickets, or a publication where the price also includes a hard copy subscription;
or
For digital goods that may be downloaded to devices and used outside of the app, such as songs that can be played on other music
players.
Donations to 527 designated tax exempt organizations are also permitted.
Google don't have clear statement about this but i near future it's possible to allow it
Source
Yes you can. There are already plenty of apps that do this. On another note, for bitcoin donations, use the coinbase api. Its probably the easier in my opinion.
I am in the process of integrating In-App Billing in my application for unmanaged products. I've configured my application in the market already to implement the BILLING permission. I've published the product ids as expected by my in-development version of my application. I've used test products so far, but for quality assurance have been trying to test with real products, charging to an AMEX card as well as personal VISA/Mastercard cards.
When I have a transaction go through, everything in my application works without a hitch. I'm even confirming all of the notification ids, so no problems there.
Throughout the process though, I have run into an issue where there is an inability to purchase the products.
The Market application responds to the user with a dialog with text
"Purchase canceled
Your payment could not be processed. Sign in to your Google Wallet account to request support."
This issue is seen on 2 Galaxy Nexus 4G devices as well as an HTC Sensation 4G. The issue occurs on WiFi, 3G, and 4G networks. The accounts purchasing initially receive an "Order receipt" email, followed by an "Order cancellation" email. The order receipt email properly includes the full information for the transaction including product name, cost, order number, date, etc. The order cancellation also includes all of this information and describes the reason for cancellation as, "Took too long to deliver". The application gets a broadcast of a purchase state change at this time, which is the cancelation of the transaction.
Any insight into what's happening and why I'm having all of my transactions fail to complete?
Through email feedback from an Android Developer Advocate, I have confirmed that this is a risk/settlement issue.
Full response from him:
Dallas,
I'm sorry to hear that you've been having difficulty getting adequate support for this issue. My apologies.
The issue you describe is currently a known issue. Your assessment was correct when you said that this was a settlement/risk issue.
Specifically, these users are being flagged by Google Checkout as being in a "risk bin" by our automated systems. These users' orders are temporarily delayed while we manually investigate the account. In the majority of cases, the orders are released for processing within 24 hours without problem.
In-app billing is a special case, as all in-app billing orders are subject to a 45 second processing timeout. (This was based on feedback from several prominent app developers.) Unfortunately, this means that any user who is placed into a risk bin will have their order canceled. Attempting the purchase again 24 hours later should work correctly.
In particular, all the orders mentioned in your bug report are from the same user, whose account is currently listed as "On Hold" while a risk review is completed. (Note that accounts used for developer testing are much more likely to get flagged for risk review, as they tend to display anomalous purchasing patterns.)
Again, the Market team is aware of this issue and is actively working on improving the customer experience.
Thanks for your patience.
Apparently, this is a Google Issue. Please check this link for more info:
http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/browse_thread/thread/66e26d87a7226000?pli=1