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

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

#321

Post by im3w1l »

dessant wrote: post #292
jrockway wrote: post #284

I am not sure why it needs to be called a donation. Just let the in-app purchase unlock some cosmetics in the app like games do. You weren't going to deduct the donation from your taxes anyway. I am curious how this ends up working out. Google takes a cut of the donations now... but the process of buying is probably easier. So maybe it will increase donation revenue, and make it easier to support free software. (Taki…

Open source developers shouldn't be forced to lock away additional functionality in their apps, or resort to special tricks just to be able to receive donations for their projects. Google could make a positive impact by introducing new features that help users seamlessly fund their favourite open source apps, right from their Google accounts. GitHub has recently introduced a similar initiative called GitHub Sponsors…

While I see what you are saying, it doesn't need to be "locked away functionality". You could like "sell" badges. $10 """buys""" a bronze badge, $30 a silver etc, whose only functionality is to be listed in some irrelevant "thanks for your support" view.

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

#322

Post by ur-whale »

BlueTemplar wrote: post #277
orbital-decay wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've tried to educate many people on a personal level and failed miserably almost every time, being perceived and dismissed as an evangelist for some weird ideology they don't care about (and I took it very slow and tried really, really hard not to sound as one). Maybe they are right, after all? Who am I to dictate or even influence what they should care about, especially if they don't experience that clearly. People…

I wonder, were at some point doctors warning about cancer from second-hand smoking dismissed like that.

The still are today (unless you live in em-bubbled places like Cali.)

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

#323

Post by ViViDboarder »

Spivak wrote: post #155
acollins1331 wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow great point. Now why the hell can't they have a donation link?

Because you can't use Google's store as a sales funnel without giving them a 30% cut. It doesn't matter if you're a company taking payments or an individual accepting donations.

Wrong. You can’t even use Google with giving them a 30% cut since donations are prohibited from Google Payments.

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

#324

Post by Fnoord »

yladiz wrote: post #267
Fnoord wrote: post #234

Can we just stop distributing "donation-ware" FOSS and use F-Droid for that instead? It is not as if Google Play Store is a credible source anyway given all the hostile content (for both privacy and security). Today I learned they even remove the orig. signature [1] [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21268717

Why? Google Play Store has a much larger audience and so the apps will be seen by many more people. Many people use Android and they also should be able to use FOSS apps, regardless of the platform’s privacy and security issues. Is there a reason to not join the Play Store besides something philosophical?

(What you describe is the issue of the Google Play Store network effect.)

Because that way, we can install these applications from F-Droid, by default. That allows us to cope out of the network effect of Google Play Store, allowing the more fair F-Droid (which specifically allows donation-ware) to increase its network effect.

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

#325

Post by callalex »

Vogtinator wrote: post #95
segfaultbuserr wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The strangest fact is, those donation pages only have some links, there is no in-app payment. I don't understand what Google is thinking about when they banned donations... Wait. I suddenly understand something I've seen previously... There is a workaround! You simply upload two versions of the app, the free edition and the supporter edition. The support's edition is a paid app. You can ask the users who want to supp…

That way google gets a cut of the donation.

To clarify, it’s a 30% cut, not just some small payment processing fee.

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

#326

Post by BlueTemplar »

Spivak wrote: post #155
acollins1331 wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow great point. Now why the hell can't they have a donation link?

Because you can't use Google's store as a sales funnel without giving them a 30% cut. It doesn't matter if you're a company taking payments or an individual accepting donations.

I'm not a lawyer, but aren't sales and donations quite different? For instance donations tend to have negative taxes...

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

#327

Post by gojomo »

dessant wrote: post #292
jrockway wrote: post #284

I am not sure why it needs to be called a donation. Just let the in-app purchase unlock some cosmetics in the app like games do. You weren't going to deduct the donation from your taxes anyway. I am curious how this ends up working out. Google takes a cut of the donations now... but the process of buying is probably easier. So maybe it will increase donation revenue, and make it easier to support free software. (Taki…

Open source developers shouldn't be forced to lock away additional functionality in their apps, or resort to special tricks just to be able to receive donations for their projects. Google could make a positive impact by introducing new features that help users seamlessly fund their favourite open source apps, right from their Google accounts. GitHub has recently introduced a similar initiative called GitHub Sponsors…

> …are allowed on Google Play.

Until some morning when suddenly, they're not!

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

#328

Post by anchpop »

helpPeople wrote: post #298
dessant wrote: post #292

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Open source developers shouldn't be forced to lock away additional functionality in their apps, or resort to special tricks just to be able to receive donations for their projects. Google could make a positive impact by introducing new features that help users seamlessly fund their favourite open source apps, right from their Google accounts. GitHub has recently introduced a similar initiative called GitHub Sponsors…

Completely agree. I do not want to restrict any users. Annoying how hard it is to be independent of FAANG control.

Would it be acceptable to Google if the only perk of buying an IAP was a little icon on the screen saying "contributor" or something?

Do they ban all donation verbiage or just IAPs that do nothing?

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

#330

Post by wavefunction »

chrisballinger wrote: post #319

I guess this will get lost in the noise, but a few years ago Apple relaxed its restrictions on IAP donations and allows developers to offer a "tip jar" where IAPs don't unlock any specific features. I've been shipping a free and open source app with a donate button on the App Store since mid-2017 [1]. 1. https://chatsecure.org/blog/sustainable-open-source-starts-w...

Does Apple take their customary cut? I am not interested in "donating" to Apple.
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