Some people have wondered about this, and fortunately I kept my correspondence with Google, so this is what it looks like. Also, before you go ahead and point it out, I will acknowledge that I may have violated the rules here, and that the app in question isn’t exactly something Mother Teresa would download (in fact, it’s pretty much a shovelware app I wrote in a day because I wanted an easier way to download music from RapidShare. Whatever, I don’t feel bad about it.) What is in question here is the process. I did not and still have not received any indication of WHICH rules were violated, and there is no way to correct mistakes.
Also note that I did NOT receive any notification that the application had been taken down – I only noticed by checking the logs two weeks later. I sent them a message through this contact form (I don’t have the original message I sent, sorry), and received this automated reply:
Thank you for your note. This is an automated reply to let you know that
we received your email.We’re putting most of our energy into improving Android Market, so we
can’t promise a personal reply to every question. If your issue is unique
or requires further investigation, we will contact you. Please be assured
that your feedback will be used to improve Android Market.If you’re inquiring about the location availability of Android Market,
please see the appropriate lists here for the latest information:
http://market.android.com/support/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=15866
We’re working hard to expand to more countries; however, we’re unable to
provide any dates for future releases.Please note that, at this time, we’re only able to respond to English
inquiries from registered Android Market Publishers. If you’re an Android
Market user, please check our Help Center
http://market.android.com/support/ and Help Forum:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Android+Market for more information.Regards,
The Android Market Team
I then heard nothing for two days. I then sent another note, which I did save. I said this:
Hello!
One of my applications, Rapid Download!, has been suspended without warning or any reason given. What steps can I take to remedy this? Where can I go to appeal this decision? This is costing me hundreds of dollars a day and has stripped me of my primary source of income. 😦
Please reply to me as soon as possible!
Thank you very much!Rich Jones
To which I then received the same automated message as above. Later in the day, I received this email (emphasis my own):
Hello Richard,
We appreciate the opportunity to review your suspended application, “Rapid
Download!.” At this time, we affirm our initial decision and are not
inclined to reinstate your application. We encourage you to re-review the
following Android Market Content guidelines before uploading additional
applications:Android Market Developer Program Policy (“Content Policies”):
http://www.android.com/us/developer-content-policy.htmlAndroid Market Developer Distribution Agreement (DDA):
http://www.android.com/us/developer-distribution-agreement.htmlApplication Rating Guidance:
http://market.android.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=188189Please note that repeated violations may result in a suspension of your
Android Market Publisher account.Regards,
The Android Market Team
Hello, again!
In your last email, you said:”We appreciate the opportunity to review your suspended application, “RapidDownload!.” At this time, we affirm our initial decision and are notinclined to reinstate your application. We encourage you to re-review thefollowing Android Market Content guidelines before uploading additionalapplications.”
However, you did not say _WHY_ it has been suspended. At this point I have a pretty good idea why and have taken the necessary steps to correct it, however, there is no way for me to remove my current screenshots (which I beleive are the offending content because they contain sexual references) and replace them with cleaner content. Is “suspended” a misnomer – is it really just permanantly blocked, or is there a way for me to correct these mistakes?
I’d also like to point out that at this point, Google has collected more than $14,000 of “Service Fees” from me, for which I have received essentially no service.
I don’t want to make this sound too threatening, but I am a leading Android developer and Android advocate in Boston, I attend Android developer meet ups, I do professional Android consulting to corporate clients and I have submitted bug reports and patches to the Android system, and if I don’t receive some useful information about to how to have my application reinstated, I am going to make my greivences public and as widely known as possible. I will encourage all of my corporate clients to avoid the Android platform and instead focus on the iOS platform. I will tell all the members of the local Android developer community about the massive problems with the market and why Apple’s platform is superior, and I will be writing letters to all major technology news outlets.
I’d really just like to fix the problems with my application, have it reviewed and re-approved, then move on my with my business. If this is impossible, there’s probably going to be quite a bit of bad press headed your way.
If you need to contact me, you have my email address, and my telephone number is [[redacted]] if you need to talk to me personally.
Please advise me how to continue with having my application reinstated. If you don’t have this capacity, please send this message to your manager.
Thanks very much,
Rich Jones
Hello Richard,Thank you for your note. For auditing purposes, we are unable to reinstateapplications that have been suspended due to policy violations. Werecommend that you upload a new instance of the application which complieswith Android Market Policies and Guidelines. We have no new information topass on to you at this time. We strongly recommend that you re-review thePolicy Terms and Guidelines forwarded in our prior note.
Please note that repeated violations may result in a suspension of your
Android Market Publisher account.Regards,
The Android Market Team
While I think the general idea of this website/movement is a good one (the Market and the way Google treats it and it’s devs should really improve), it’s a shame you started it over an app like yours. Now it just sound like it would if a little punk would smash in the windows of a police car and then complain to the newspapers about how the cops were not being nice to him afterwards. It’s hard to take serious.
So while I agree with the basics of your argument, I think this website and your ‘union’ could actually be counter-productive here. Public image is relevant.
vergognati coglione!!
Was your account suspended, or just apps? I had 4 of my apps suspended, and my dev account suspended. Anyone ever get the account unsuspended. Seems impossible since humans don’t really respond to our emails.
My app RudeDroid has been suspended for policy violation even though it doesn’t violate anything. Having no luck getting a response from Google.
It’s shocking that there’s no way to appeal this process.