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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

#401

Post by kllrnohj »

SamBam wrote: post #198
lern_too_spel wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All Google phones and Android One devices have unlockable bootloaders.

Rooting the Pixel 2 (I haven't tried the other Pixels) is not trivial for the average user, it still involves downloading third-party software and doing stuff on the command line. I had hoped that the pure-Google devices would have just had a switch: "I am now root," but alas it wasn't to be.

Not only does it not require third-party software, Google actually documents how to do it officially:

https://source.android.com/setup/build/running#unlocking-rec...

You're correct it's not trivial for the average user, but the average user should also not have a rooted device (nor does the average user even want a rooted device).

Is the learning curve perfect for the semi-advanced user? Probably not. But third-party software also fills this gap just fine. I don't think Google should be a required party here. They do provide officially supported tools & documentation for the process itself (and those tools work on all major platforms at that), just not a shiny GUI to do it. I think that's a reasonable point to be at.

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

#402

Post by hosteur »

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...

Interesting. As someone who considers making an open source app with a tip jar like that I would be very interested in hearing how much that actually nets you if you want to share that info (Maybe via PM if you prefer)

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

#403

Post by jammygit »

dessant wrote: post #235

Google Play In-app Billing does not support donations [1], so open source developers should be allowed to link to their own donation pages. Google Play policies do not spell out that linking to donation platforms such as Patreon is forbidden. Disallowing developers from using in-app billing for donations, while also barring them from linking to external donation platforms, puts open source projects in a difficult pos…

I don’t believe cable tv, for how locked down and awful it is/was, ever went so far as to try and limit any spending outside their own platforms. Perhaps it was a lack of innovation, but the internet and the world of software licensing is gross by comparison

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

#404

Post by rolph »

IshKebab wrote: post #33
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 triv…

google gets a 30 % cut. I wonder about the exactwording and legalese. so if someone is financially endowed then could they make a simple game or a loot box bonus, that pays people to play it. then google would owe 30% to that player.

just to stir the pot and see what happens.

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

#405

Post by kllrnohj »

Fradow wrote: post #283
fooqux wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't believe that is correct. All you need is adb and the various Android command line tools. Those are all first party. If you downloaded a third party tool to make it easier, that's fine I guess, but it's not a requirement. Some of this I can understand. Root permissions does introduce some additional security considerations. We haven't fixed this in decades of computer usage in a way that preserves security, ea…

That's correct. adb doesn't give you root privileges. For example, you cannot install system apps with adb unless you have a rooted device already. You certainly have access to a lot of things with adb, but it can hardly be considered root on non-rooted devices.

> adb doesn't give you root privileges.

That's not true. It does have root support built in with 'adb root' that then runs future shell commands as root.

The factory image has this disabled, though, so you do need to flash a build that supports it. That would be a 'userdebug' build variant ( https://source.android.com/setup/build/building#choose-a-tar... )

So strictly speaking you can have root through purely first-party, open source, AOSP tools exclusively. It does, however, require doing a full build & flash yourself. That process is at least documented, though, so there's that. Just think of it like Gentoo

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

#406

Post by smileybarry »

kragen wrote: post #368
edhelas wrote: post #313

My social-network/IM app ( https://movim.eu/ ) got also removed from the Play Store because I had a link to the F-Droid app. The Android app is basically a web-view pointing to one of the many instances of the social network https://nl.movim.eu/?login . Regarding the time (and also money) spent to publish the APK on the Play Store and the hassle it is to discuss with the Google moderation team I didn't bothered putti…

That's interesting — not a donation page, but an F-Droid page (which as far as I know doesn't accept donations)? When did this happen?

That's probably due to the "can't link to other stores" clause. There's a reason you have to manually go to Amazon.com to download their app store, you can't advertise or link to a third-party app source via a Google Play-delivered app.

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

#408

Post by diminoten »

allworknoplay wrote: post #351
diminoten wrote: post #348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ever use a credit card to make a donation anywhere?

Apple's cut is a hell of a lot more than 2.9% + $0.30.

Never said it wasn't? Just pointing out how silly this stance is.

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

#409

Post by leni536 »

segfaultbuserr wrote: post #90
black_puppydog wrote: post #77

The very same thing happened to manyverse (android ssb client) the other day. Got de-listed, resubmitted without donation page, now it's back up. How google tries to claim any sort of support for open source is beyond me. What open source app doesn't need a donation link? Those approved and funded by google don't, okay. But other than that?

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's what PPSSPP already does. AFAIK PPSSPP Gold only differs in price and the icon.

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

#410

Post by the8472 »

krn wrote: post #340
dessant wrote: post #235

Google Play In-app Billing does not support donations [1], so open source developers should be allowed to link to their own donation pages. Google Play policies do not spell out that linking to donation platforms such as Patreon is forbidden. Disallowing developers from using in-app billing for donations, while also barring them from linking to external donation platforms, puts open source projects in a difficult pos…

> Disallowing developers from using in-app billing for donations, while also barring them from linking to external donation platforms, puts open source projects in a difficult position, and appears to be overly hostile towards funding open source development. Google Play has been very clear about this[1]: > Fund solicitations > Examples: Donation solicitations from parties without a valid 501(c)(3) tax exempt status…

> Examples

Since those are examples I hope this also covers tax-exempt charities in other jurisdictions.

I switched to the german site and it still only refers to american laws.

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