I have written more than 18 Android apps, including Port Scandroid and aBTC, the Android BitTorrent client, and the official ‘This American Life’ application.
I make my living off of making Android applications.
I released an app called Rapid Download! which would search and download from filehosting sites like RapidShare (a service which can be done less conveniently using Google’s own search engine). It cost 2.99, 3728 downloads and positive reviews.
Without any warning or notification, the application was removed. I only noticed when I went to check my sales and noticed I had not made any money for the previous week and a half.
When I contacted Google (through a web form which didn’t work the first few times I tried it), I was able to inquire about my situation. All I received was an automated reply with no useful information.
I tried the form again, and received another automated reply. The third time I tried, I received an actual reply, though it contained no specific information and threatened me, saying that if I violated the rules again, my account would be deactivated and all of my applications would be removed from the Market. This would mean that I wouldn’t have any source of income and wouldn’t be able to make my rent payments.
This kind of treatment is unacceptable. Since I began developing Android applications two years ago, Google has collected over $14,000 in “service fees” as part of their 30% tax on all sales – and the only service they have ever provided me is a threatening letter.
Google needs to know that this kind of treatment of developers on their platform will NOT be tolerated by developers or by Android customers!
Please, support the Android Developers union and lets make Android great together!
Thank you,
Rich
[…] client aBTC and the official This American Life apps, appears to be a founding member, according to this blog post outlining issues they’ve had on the Market with one of their titles. Follow TNW Mobile […]
[…] client aBTC and the official This American Life apps, appears to be a founding member, according to this blog post outlining issues they’ve had on the Market with one of their […]
[…] client aBTC and the official This American Life apps, appears to be a founding member, according to this blog post outlining issues they’ve had on the Market with one of their […]
Did Google explain which part of their TOS you were violating?
My guess would either be Section 7.2 part A or E: http://www.android.com/us/developer-distribution-agreement.html
Regardless, the app is just providing links. The Google Search engine does the same thing.
No, they provided no explanation whatsoever.
Could it be the “Non-Compete” clause?
“4.5 Non-Compete. You may not use the Market to distribute or make available any Product whose primary purpose is to facilitate the distribution of Products outside of the Market.”
Well there is always Windows Phone 7 and Apple iOS which treats their developers much better! Why bother complaining to an organization with deaf ears! They do not have vested interest in seeing you, developers, succeed. There are more interested in seeing their own search engine pushed into more hands. Your apps are merely a caveat on the phone that helps them.
I urge you to seriously consider moving over to platforms like iOS and Windows Phone 7.
“Apple iOS which treats their developers much better!”
I laugh in your general direction.
“… and Apple iOS which treats their developers much better”
No, really. I lol’d.
“Apple treats their developers better?”… You’re clearly not an Apple iPhone developer, else you’re simply another Apple airhead groupie who also believes Apple’s can’t get viruses. No offense intended, I’m sure you’re simply not an iOS developer.
I am an iPhone developer and I can tell you, Jobs keeps his boot heel firmly on us peaon software devs’ throats. Being an iPhone dev sucks and I’ll do anything I can to help see that Google doesn’t follow that path.
I’m happy you are sharing with us non-developers what is going on with your side. I’m sure Google isn’t trying to push away developers but because they clearly do not know what they are doing, it sure does seem that way.
Just also wanted to add that this website is a great idea and I hope more developers who have similar experiences can voice their struggles in dealing with Google. Like you said, it is not acceptable and needs to be fixed for both the developers and yes Google, even us customers (speaking to Google if they read this). Believe or not Google, us customers who pay money for apps do support the developers and want Android to work out for numerous reasons. Please don’t mess it up, slow the growth, or make foolish decisions that could easily be avoided.
P.S. I hope this union also pushes – as strong as humanely possible – for a more universal OS upgrading system. Google may say it is up to the developers and networks, but with the position Google is in right now – they are definitely more than capable of almost “forcing” companies like Samsung/Motorola to upgrade to the latest OS version if they choose to use Android. Something perhaps like a 3 month max to upgrade. This allows for “reasonable” fragmentation.
[…] relativo éxito han sido los primeros en mostrar su descontento a través de los comentarios.Quizá el caso de Rich, desarrollador en Android con más de 18 aplicaciones en Market, es el más extraño de entender. […]
Hello,
My app have been also putting out from the market. I have fixed it, but I can’t update my app on the market… what a shame. We can’t contact them.
This will come as a disappointment to AT&T which is in the process of pushing this phone in their stores now that the iPhone is no longer a monopoly with AT&T. I think they will have a difficult time getting customers to buy the product if there are few apps that are available for the phone to function with. All I can think of is the line from Star Wars…….”These are not the Droids you are looking for” and that might be a wake up call for AT&T.
So, uh, you DO realize that the 30% cut doesn’t all go to Google; an “undisclosed” percentage of it goes to the carrier, which may or may not be 100%.
Google probably isn’t making any money off of your apps at all, aside from the $25 registration fee for your market account.
At least Google is owing responsibility to give thorough explanation how your app violated the codes of Android Market.
Personally I’m totally fed up with Google’s horibble management of the market. So I really feel sympathetic to you.
Hey, so here’s an idea…if you don’t like how Google is “treating” you then quit developing freaking Android apps!
Douche bags like you, with your whining and complaining are nothing buy annoying!
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” – George Bernard Shaw.
Guess what: If nobody shouts loudly about the state of the Android market, it will never improve.
How about if you put a Facebook’s Like button here? To spread the word a bit more.
Te apoyo…. ya que estoy empezando a crear mis primeras aplicacion para android te apoyo!!!
[…] el caso de Rich, desarrollador en Android con más de 18 aplicaciones en Market, es el más extraño de entender. […]
As an Intel employee, I read with interest to see if any mention would be made of our Intel AppUp(SM) center. I’m not part of the AppUp team but hear about it a lot from internal communications. It’s a nascent alternative to the two main application stores.
The Inquirer posted a citation of this blog at:
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2030030/android-developers-union-makes-google-demands
…they had details that were not found on this blog, including a list of specific demands. I wonder where they got them.
I’d like a list of apps and developers who are part of this union. Then i’ll know what NOT to buy and who NOT to support. Its open source – you can always sell the apk direct to consumer or through another market or make your own market. so stop bitching. you could always go to apple or RIM – i’m sure they’ll treat you much better.
Ah nice, very nice, so there are about a dozen of Android Stores, you the customer can choose from which store to buy, and we the developers have to put a dozen updates and support a dozen awful stores just to satisfy you and then you only pay 99c?
One store should be enough, if that store works!
[…] Android, Rich de New Freedom Apps ha escrito un post en el blog del sindicato titulado "My Story – Rapid download!" en el cual básicamente pone en el contexto los puntos que el sindicato está […]
[…] el caso de Rich, desarrollador en Android con más de 18 aplicaciones en Market, es el más extraño de entender. […]
Are developers eligible to join who created apps which were purloined through the filesharing service, or creators whose work was appropriated by BitTorrent?
jd/adobe
So, one person writes an app designed to make it easy for folks to download pirated content (c’mon, get off your high horse here!) and then he starts a wordpress blog and calls himself a union…
Jeez…
I think we need another mobile platform, open, not controlled by a single entity, and open source.
[…] TheNextWeb berichtet, ist bisher unklar, wer hinter der Android Developers Union steht. Ein Blogeintrag von New Freedom Apps, Entwickler des BitTorrent-Clients aBTC, lege die Vermutung nahe, dass das […]
He’s totally right to wish a transparent review process and other choices of paying! – In europe it’s not very common to have a credit card – most people have debit cards.
regards
Kay
I made my account with a debit card…
Your app was barely legal and I’m pretty sure the Terms and Conditions of Google Search and Google Android Market are saying exactly why your app was removed.
I’m not saying that the Android Market don’t need more improvements but this petition sure sounds your personal revenge more than a general concern.
webOS would be very happy to have you as a dev. Just saying. Their dev relations team is 2nd to none, and the next few months on the platform are promising to be quitttttte exciting.
They should have informed you, that I agree with, however your apps are poking Google a little.
In your screenshot for Rapid Download you are on the brink of committing copyright infringement… No wonder they got a bit pissy.
The whole “i’m only providing search results” argument is fine and dandy, but linking to copyrighted material can get you in a lot of trouble – I know this from getting my ass handed to me after operating a website that did almost the same as Rapid Download… and I was not even making profit from that.
They didn’t treat you very nice at all, but your app is in a real grey area.
It stretches further than the screenshot too – Androlib lists a fairly unambiguous incitement to infringe copyright (Link courtesy of Engadget):
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.org-ale-rapiddownload-qmxFC.aspx
While Google should have provided a more thorough explanation, it is hard to imagine that the removal of this application from the market was unexpected.
Well, I have to agree with those who say that there is a lot of competitive platforms out there. If Google “is evil” start developing for Windows Phone 7, webOS or iOS
Maybe you shouldn’t encourage people in such an obvious manner to download illegal content.
Here’s the description of your app: http://www.androlib.com/android.application.org-ale-rapiddownload-qmxFC.aspx
Even on the screenshots its obvious… To me, this seems like you should have figured this one out by now… It makes this website (and yourself) look a bit dumb…
Maybe google remove the app BC it fucking sucks !!! Have u read all of the coments from the people who downloaded that shit !?!?!?
Go to ios see what they say about ur app 🙂
Warning to everyone: the people running this “blog” will delete comments that are critical of them. So much for open dialog…
I’m going to take a shot at why it got removed.
1: Your description promotes downloading of illegal material.
2: Your description includes the phrase “XXX porn”
3: Your second screenshot includes the phrase “Katja Kassin Cumshot”.
A tiny bit of common sense goes a long way….
your app got removed because it violates the TOS and because you allowed access to illegal material, and showed it right in your screenshots. Also like what mark said, you flat out mentioned porn in your information.
Now, is what google did right, not really. I agree that they should have told you why they removed it and should not have made you call 3 times to get an answer.
However, google removing your app was the correct thing to do because the app is providing an illegal service.
“…and the only service they have ever provided me is a threatening letter.”
Haha, that’s rich. I guess they’re not responsible for creating the entire platform you are now living off?
Ive had a similar experience as my account got banned without notice or explanation, despite the fact that I do not appear to violate any rules.
Its amazing how badly Google treats their developers, despite the fact that Ive paid about $17,000 in fees.
[…] is providing little transparency itself. So far, only one name is associated with the union – Rich – who says he was passed between auto-responses and mild threats when he tried to find out why […]
Google does not provide any service.. say like free OS and dev tools and a distribution network?
Maybe you should provide some transparency as well, you claim google sent you some very ill informed emails in regards to your apps getting pulled, why dont you show anyone those emails, you are free to censor out personal irrelevent info from them, but until you do, how does anyone really know how this situation went down.
Google is getting a lot of flack as it is because they do a bad job of moderating their app store. I don’t need to see more coming from people who try to profit off the promotion of piracy. You may make a living with your app, but the fact that it is designed to promote piracy is actually grounds for a lawsuit on your hands sir. In my opinion, you got off easy.
[…] is providing small clarity itself. So far, usually one name is compared with a kinship – Rich – who says he was upheld between auto-responses and amiable threats when he attempted to find out […]
[…] is providing little transparency itself. So far, only one name is associated with the union – Rich – who says he was passed between auto-responses and mild threats when he tried to find out why […]
[…] is providing small clarity itself. So far, usually one name is compared with a kinship – Rich – who says he was upheld between auto-responses and amiable threats when he attempted to find out […]
don’t know much about rich and his beef with google, but I know google is run by pricks and always has been, and I appreciate the opportunity to tell google to kiss my brown ass.
You have my full support!
This dev is not providing anything Google does not provide on http://www.google.com already.
The only reason they removed his app is because its on Google servers and they want to cover their own asses.
[…] is providing little transparency itself. So far, only one name is associated with the union – Rich – who says he was passed between auto-responses and mild threats when he tried to find out why […]
[…] Lediglich ein Mann namens Rich, nach eigener Aussage Entwickler von 18 Apps, bekennt sich als Mitglied und schimpft: “Google muss erkennen, dass sie Entwickler auf ihrer Plattform nicht so […]
[…] el caso de Rich, desarrollador en Android con más de 18 aplicaciones en Market, es el más extraño de entender. […]
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