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Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

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Re: Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

#61

Post by Lich »

jshowa3 wrote: post #15
nukeop wrote: post #6

So now anyone who has ever owned a terminated account is a Typhoid Mary and as Google refuses to provide any details about their bans and cuts all communications with banned accounts, it's like being exiled by a commandment from high above. People talk about possible future AI abuses but here we are with people getting abused by an AI system right now. Being banned from ever having a Google Play account is a death se…

That's what happens when you build a store architecture where its the only way to release an app. When stores were introduced offering built-in DRM, not allowing native apps, and only providing a license to use the software, it was only a matter of time before these things happened. Having no control or ownership of what you put on your machine was a death sentence. Problem is, people love stores like Steam and frequ…

I own over nearly 100 games on Steam, mostly bought on sales. Despite the tons of titles I bought, I miss the experience of actually owning a copy of the game, along with the box and manuals that came with it. More importantly though, I think it's scary that Valve can one day decide to totally ban a user from their purchased game because they didn't like the behavior or actions of an account holder (e.g. cheating in a Valve game or account getting hacked).

Re: Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

#62

Post by jtchang »

josteink wrote: post #53
godzillabrennus wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google is already established as a god awful vendor partner. It’s reflected in their cloud divisions performance. Anyone sane is using someone else if they can.

I literally know zero people using Google Cloud. Everyone is on Amazon or Azure. I can count the times google has burnt my hand though...

Yeah Amazon (especially AWS) is pretty decent with customer service all things considering.

I've heard of people getting hacked and having huge bills because they stared up bitcoin miners with their account. I think AWS actually refunded the charges.

Scary to think if Google would do the same as easily.

Re: Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

#63

Post by jjoonathan »

mehrdadn wrote: post #58
mindslight wrote: post #4

I've got to wonder if, after basic Twit-shaming becomes no longer scalable, Google support will basically end up taking the same essential shape as IRS support - if you receive a nastygram, you turn it over to your professional account/attorney/googvocate who's entire specialty is knowing how to "talk to" the organization.

I hope you've had a bad experience with the IRS because otherwise it's really frustrating to see the government-targeted analog of libel. Imagine working hard and professionally to serve your country only to have your reputation tarnished like this.

My interactions with tax prep professionals and software have all been far, far worse than my interactions with the IRS. The IRS says exactly what they mean, while everyone else "interprets," does a bad job of it, and leaves you stuck with the bill plus the hassle.

Re: Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

#64

Post by rajangdavis »

Just asking out loud, if you were a developer that was experimenting with building apps and you accidentally violate some Play store terms of service, would Google removing your app be a permanent black mark or how can you show that you were acting on good faith?

Re: Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

#66

Post by trhway »

ape4 wrote: post #49
techaddict009 wrote: post #10

https://blog.usejournal.com/google-wrongly-terminated-our-ne... story of another startup. And mine too. I had a small utility calculator app with some 100k download and play store suddenly deleted the account. The app was in partnership with someone. No reason nothing. No way to restore. Play stores auto termination policy sucks to hell. Update: I just saw the post back. Since it went viral google reinitiated their a…

Maybe its ok for some infractions to be automated but for things with huge penalties like life-time ban of developer or removing an app that took months of work... there should be a panel of real humans or some kind of human process.

well, to start with the power of monopolies should be limited. Google with play store on Android is the MS with IE on Windows 20+ years ago.

Re: Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

#67

Post by alasdair_ »

josteink wrote: post #53
godzillabrennus wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google is already established as a god awful vendor partner. It’s reflected in their cloud divisions performance. Anyone sane is using someone else if they can.

I literally know zero people using Google Cloud. Everyone is on Amazon or Azure. I can count the times google has burnt my hand though...

>I literally know zero people using Google Cloud. Everyone is on Amazon or Azure.

Snapchat uses Google Cloud. So does Pokemon Go.

Re: Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

#68

Post by patmcguire »

mindslight wrote: post #4

I've got to wonder if, after basic Twit-shaming becomes no longer scalable, Google support will basically end up taking the same essential shape as IRS support - if you receive a nastygram, you turn it over to your professional account/attorney/googvocate who's entire specialty is knowing how to "talk to" the organization.

This is one of those situations where it's not what you know, it's who you know. The only thing that matters is if you know someone who can bypass their support and flip a boolean.

Re: Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

#69

Post by tyingq »

braydo25 wrote: post #41
itchyjunk wrote: post #2

I guess the hope is to get on the front page of HN and hope someone in Play policy team sees it? Pretty sad way of handling it. I wonder if this was an automated action? I also wonder why that personal account was terminated.

For others interested, we just had a sit down with the developer and asked why they were previously terminated. They disclosed years ago they had created an app, and then decide to rebrand it for other use cases - basically "templated" apps in the play store. They were then terminated for violating the "spam" policy.

And banned for life, apparently? Hopefully someone at Google that cares about avoiding antitrust action picks up this story.

Re: Google terminated our startup's developer account – what do we do?

#70

Post by alasdair_ »

Animats wrote: post #11

Pivot to a product that doesn't require Google approval? All the top apps today come from big companies. Mostly Google, in fact. The era of the app startup is over. Why do you want to compete with Google while under the control of Google? If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — forever. - Orwell

>All the top apps today come from big companies.

There is likely some causation there but not necessarily in the way you are implying. Some companies GET big because they have a top app that is making a lot of money.

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