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Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

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Re: Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

#51

Post by heptathorp »

> I had created a Google Developer Account simply so I could pass on the login details to my app developers who uploaded and updated the app via my account each time.

Sounds like one of those developers was previously banned for violating ToS and Google suspects the author is the same person with a new account trying to evade the ban. Instead of sharing login details, the correct thing to do is add a user and give them permission to upload. Not let them pretend to be you.

The situation sucks but Google's action seems reasonable? Like they can't just let people create new accounts to evade bans.

Re: Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

#52

Post by [deleted] »

pizza wrote: post #44
rjknight wrote: post #23

It sounds like the problem is with the outsourced developers responsible for the app. It's their account which has been banned - for multiple violations of the ToS. Now, perhaps this is just over-zealous enforcement on Google's part, but it's also possible that these developers have created shady apps before, or are adding shady code to apps developed for others. The OP doesn't seem to know for certain what code is i…

Google has the burden of proof to show why they are guilty by mere association, but won't do it, likely because they don't want to reveal any information about how they determine who is violating the ToS. There should be greater transparency and a better appeals process, but there won't be. At the very least it doesn't seem that Google has thought of a better way to handle the scenario where an honest client relies u…

[deleted]

Re: Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

#53

Post by givinguflac »

ganeshkrishnan wrote: post #20
flibble wrote: post #3

Sounds like a bad situation. If I were you I would simply change the app ID, create a new Play account and publish it there. If there problem is with the connection to a banned account and not the app, then this removes that problem/connection.

Do NOT do this. Google will then ban all your accounts including Gmail, drive and ads as creating an account to circumvent their ban is really dangerous. This ban is lifetime unfortunately and you or related accounts are not allowed on Google ever.

If this meant they would stop tracking me and advertising to me, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Re: Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

#54

Post by dvfjsdhgfv »

ben_w wrote: post #35
bad_user wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> “ This ultimately hurts app stores ” Good, app stores need to die.

App stores are the least-unreliable mechanism I have to trust executable code. I don’t even enable JavaScript by default. Do you have an alternative trust mechanism that can’t be subverted via, for example, algorithmic voting?

A generalization is not necessary here, for me there is a huge difference between Apple's App Store and Google Play. The former actually has real people behind it that you can talk to, also on the phone, and who are really friendly and will reach out to help you fix problems. Also, they do really review the app, obviously using automated tools, but still there's some human involvement. Google tries to be smarter than everyone else but they're not. Many people have this love-hate relationship with them, but recently there's less and less love in it.

Re: Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

#55

Post by PerilousD »

Sorry for the bad Karma but seriously this is 2019. If the OP hasn't seen a zillion other stories like this about Apple, Google, Facebook et al the they clearly have $25,000 to burn so sorry OP but why bother posting this?

If your business model is dependent on someone else's service/store/website/slients then YOU DONT HAVE A BUSINESS you have AT BEST a franchise.

Re: Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

#56

Post by tjungblut »

edoo wrote: post #37

My adwords account was terminated after 7 years of inactivity for some violation regarding how I used my original $100 free credit to experiment with click metrics. I got a similar letter when I appealed. I didn't realize it until a couple years after it was terminated when I wanted to promote a self made product. I have to use someone else's account now to run my ads. It feels excessive.

I have the same issue and it happened already more than 10 years (!) ago by now. Indeed there is no possible way to get adwords enabled again after such a termination.

Re: Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

#58

Post by noonespecial »

dvfjsdhgfv wrote: post #46
noonespecial wrote: post #27

The question I always have with this stuff is this: To attract developers, these platforms make some promises. A "review" process for supposed violations of TOS causing cancellations is always among them. But to me these "reviews" always seem either completely faked or some version of a lowest-level employee simply restating that the algo has made its choice and they are powerless. More incriminating is that every ti…

The review money is ridiculously small when compared to the investment they made.

I would assume if they could show that they depended on the promise made by the "supplier (google)" when they purchased the fraudulent good, the supplier would be liable for damages as well. Sort of like if I sold someone "aircraft grade aluminum" and then delivered compacted used soda cans and they actually did try to build a plane from it resulting in a crash.

Re: Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

#59

Post by avip »

daniel-levin wrote: post #16

What kind of an agreement did you sign with your developers? IANAL. You might be able to invoke some legal means to limit your losses. The associated-account story wasn’t an act of God. You might argue the developers should have known better. I’d suggest buying an hour of a lawyer’s time to see what can be done.

You don't "sign agreements" on marketplaces the likes of Upwork. There's a dispute process, which would normally take the buyer's side.

Re: Google terminated our business via our Google Play Developer Account

#60

Post by gambiting »

lovich wrote: post #47
noonespecial wrote: post #27

The question I always have with this stuff is this: To attract developers, these platforms make some promises. A "review" process for supposed violations of TOS causing cancellations is always among them. But to me these "reviews" always seem either completely faked or some version of a lowest-level employee simply restating that the algo has made its choice and they are powerless. More incriminating is that every ti…

>Isn't this legally actionable fraud? Does it matter if it is? B2B lawsuits only get down to the actual law if the parties have a relatively equal amount of money. A small or medium business going after google _after google has shut off their revenue_ is not going to ever win

Why not? If you take them to court over this they would have to at least send a representative and that costs money - in a case like this they would almost definitely tell the engineering team to fix this specific case. Especially since this is in the UK so if Google lost they would be liable for the process fees. Maybe even small claims court would be enough, and that's 100% not worth sending a lawyer for.
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