Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

lists.zx2c4.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 579 posts

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#31

Post by oh_sigh »

zx2c4 wrote: post #18
dessant wrote: post #8

It's unfortunate that the developer resubmitted the app without the donation link, open source projects having a donation link in their apps does not violate Google Play policies. > Here are some examples of products not currently supported by Google Play In-app Billing: > One time-payments, including peer-to-peer payments, online auctions, and donations. https://play.google.com/about/monetization-ads/

It indeed is unfortunate. But what other recourse did we have? The first objective, before we even consider donations or anything, is to make our software available and functional to our users. So we had to resubmit. And it's not like the resubmission process is instantaneous; as of writing, the app still isn't back in the store. But anyway, now what? Let's say things return to normal, but we still want to put the si…

I can almost guarantee you that a googler who reads hn has submitted this issue to an internal mailing list and you will get special treatment for this problem.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#32

Post by trulyrandom »

zx2c4 wrote: post #24
trulyrandom wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because I prefer sticking to APKs signed by the author of the app. F-Droid APKs are signed with different keys, typically.

I agree with your sentiment in theory. Unfortunately, in practice, Google Play Store rips off my signature after I upload and sticks their own one on instead. Blah.

Huh, isn't that only the case for Android App Bundles?

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#33

Post by IshKebab »

dessant wrote: post #8

It's unfortunate that the developer resubmitted the app without the donation link, open source projects having a donation link in their apps does not violate Google Play policies. > Here are some examples of products not currently supported by Google Play In-app Billing: > One time-payments, including peer-to-peer payments, online auctions, and donations. https://play.google.com/about/monetization-ads/

My app was also removed a few months ago for this. In the email they say you have to use Google Play In-app Billing, however:

> Donations to 527 designated tax exempt organizations are also permitted.

So if Wireguard becomes a proper tax exempt organisation it would be ok.

If you want donations but aren't tax exempt there is basically no way to do it. However you could easily work around it by offering something trivial like a badge (games can use IAP to purchase trivial things like hats). The downside is that Google take their 30% cut.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#34

Post by NightlyDev »

izacus wrote: post #5

For anyone else publishing mobile apps: Neither Apple nor Google allow bypassing the store's purchase system by linking to external donation pages. No matter the app type, it will result in rejection.

Donation pages, maybe. But there is a lot of categories on the play store where you have to use your own payment method or can if you want to.

Some examples are purchases that can be used outside the app, eg. cross platform purchases and things like transportation and finance.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#35

Post by irjustin »

I know this will be against deeply against HNews but I'm open to discussion.

I don't see anything wrong with this. Charging vs Donations, I don't see what the difference is. It's people paying money for good/services/software. The primary difference is the open ended pricing model.

Google, Apple put up networks and there's value in that network. Whether someone chooses to release their app for free or charge money for it, that app is dictated by the network fees. This network is extremely powerful in terms of its distribution reach. Does it warrant 30%? That's what the market is willing to put up with, but if we're debating 30% - it should be for the whole network not just because someone has an open ended pricing model.

If this app is registered as a non-profit (which it did not look like based on the website?) then I am 100% in the wrong and do believe the app should be able to operate under different pricing schemes.

At a philosophical level - what is the difference between a free-to-use app that has open ended pricing vs a FOSS with donations?

If there is a difference, let's discuss it.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#36

Post by iicc »

dessant wrote: post #8

It's unfortunate that the developer resubmitted the app without the donation link, open source projects having a donation link in their apps does not violate Google Play policies. > Here are some examples of products not currently supported by Google Play In-app Billing: > One time-payments, including peer-to-peer payments, online auctions, and donations. https://play.google.com/about/monetization-ads/

>Apps that employ in-store or in-app purchases must comply with the following guidelines

A donation is not a purchase.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#37

Post by Avamander »

trulyrandom wrote: post #32
zx2c4 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with your sentiment in theory. Unfortunately, in practice, Google Play Store rips off my signature after I upload and sticks their own one on instead. Blah.

Huh, isn't that only the case for Android App Bundles?

Only if the app is enrolled to their resigning program, requires either initial agreement or signing key upload.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#38

Post by pmh »

zx2c4 wrote: post #24
trulyrandom wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because I prefer sticking to APKs signed by the author of the app. F-Droid APKs are signed with different keys, typically.

I agree with your sentiment in theory. Unfortunately, in practice, Google Play Store rips off my signature after I upload and sticks their own one on instead. Blah.

I thought that was opt-in still (https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...) unless you use app bundles, but that article makes it sound like you can bring your own key too. Do they still modify the signature in that case?

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#39

Post by usr1106 »

irjustin wrote: post #35

I know this will be against deeply against HNews but I'm open to discussion. I don't see anything wrong with this. Charging vs Donations, I don't see what the difference is. It's people paying money for good/services/software. The primary difference is the open ended pricing model. Google, Apple put up networks and there's value in that network. Whether someone chooses to release their app for free or charge money fo…

It is useless to discuss market or even fairness as long Google and Apple are (de-facto) monopolies for the respective phone owner.

It's a major failure of governments to allow monopolies.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#40

Post by dessant »

irjustin wrote: post #35

I know this will be against deeply against HNews but I'm open to discussion. I don't see anything wrong with this. Charging vs Donations, I don't see what the difference is. It's people paying money for good/services/software. The primary difference is the open ended pricing model. Google, Apple put up networks and there's value in that network. Whether someone chooses to release their app for free or charge money fo…

There is no need for a philosophical debate, because Google Play In-app Billing simply doesn't support donations.

https://play.google.com/about/monetization-ads/

Post reply on HN