For the past month, I’ve been developing Android Apps to see if there is any opportunity for an Irish company to make a decent living via creating and selling apps through the Android Play Store.
After weeks of research, I opted to develop apps for the personalisation category of the market as it appeared that this area was the one that most people who used the Android market were likely to part with their cash. It took a couple of weeks to get going, but when it did, I was very impressed.
When I finally figured out what would sell, I was making over €100 per day. This run lasted for a solid 12 days. I was very content that there was a living to be made out of the market, but it was still such early days that I was still pretty much testing the water.
Unfortunately, my run ended late last night. I got an email from Google which said:
“Your Android Market developer account has been suspended due to prior developer account suspension violations of our developer agreement and policies. “
One of my strategies was to offer free apps, which I would use to cross sell my paid for apps. This was ultimately what I thought led to my account being suspended.
I had stupidly used a copyrighted image in one of my free apps. Thinking that because my free app was benefiting no-one monetarily, I thought it would be OK. But I was clearly wrong. My free apps were suspended.
Well that is my assumption of course. Because three of my free apps were suspended prior to me receiving the notification of the account suspension. When I received those suspensions, I spent hours making sure my other Apps were 100% compliant with the Android Market Developer agreement and policies.
However, it turns out that I was not in fact banned for this – but in fact, it was that Google believe I have had other accounts suspended in the past (which I don’t) and I was trying to beat the system by creating another account.
Looking around the web for others who were banned, it seems that Google have a very strict, no retribution policy. It appears that it’s a waste of time to even question the reason for this suspension as I’m unlikely to get a response. Of course, I have tried to get in touch, to no avail as of yet.
But what does that mean for anyone trying to make a serious go at becoming an Android Developer?
In one foul swoop your whole business could be taken from under you, without any explanation from Google. Google don’t seem to offer you the chance to prove your innocence, nor the opportunity to change anything that is against their Android Market Developer agreement and policies.
The fact that they believe my account is another account by someone who was suspended before is quite frightening. I have an idea how they have come to that conclusion – but I will keep that to myself until I know they are not willing to discuss it with me.
The sad reality is that I had hoped to build a business in this area. Creating jobs and an export market for the haggered Irish economy.
I would be extremely worried and cautious as to how viable it actually would be when you take these actions into consideration. Can you imagine walking into your workforce following a suspension by Google and saying “You’ve lost your jobs, Google has suspended our account because they believe we had an account before… Oh and they won’t respond to our requests to reconsider.” ??
The initial attraction to the Android market for me was its openness. Unlike the Apple App Store, you didn’t have to go through an approval process before your app appeared on the market. This was appealing as it allowed you to test the market before putting a huge amount of effort into something that just isn’t going to work.
Of course, from a user experience, the Android Market process isn’t ideal. It means that there is a lot of low quality apps available on the market. But on the other hand, it also means there are a lot more free apps available.
I’m now at a cross roads. I’m half way through an app that I believe will do really well on the Android Market, but not sure if I should change my focus now to iOS. Obviously, I can’t open another Android Developer account so I will need to partner up with someone on that front – but it really has left me with a dilemma.
Another issue is the fact that they didn’t just ban apps they felt were in violation, but also apps that were perfectly legit. I had some basic apps outside the personalisation category that were doing quite well and now they too are not available.
How Google think this is a good way to treat their Android Market Developers is beyond me. They should at least offer an appeal process or change their terms and conditions to allow people open more than one account.
Maybe if they brought in an approval system similar to the Apple App Market it would prevent users uploading apps that they shouldn’t be.
Either way, I’m extremely dismayed by the whole episode. It would be really nice to get some feedback from Google and find out exactly where it all went wrong. We can only learn by our mistakes!
#1 by Jay at September 27th, 2011
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Hello, how many suspended application before suspending your whole account?
Does your adsense got suspended too when they suspend your android market account ?
#2 by Tom Doyle at September 27th, 2011
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Two and no my adsense wasn’t affected
#3 by Simon Platten at October 28th, 2011
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Unfortunately, I am going through this myself. Got an email from Google telling me my account has been suspended. No explanation as to exactly why. I know some of the images used in my applications were sourced from the internet, but I fail to see how what I did is any different from what google does millions of times a day. Google displays other peoples images for its own gain in its Image search facility, these images are sourced from any site it likes, mostly not from the originator of the image, so isn’t this peddling stolen goods and also breaking copyright…but no wait, when google does it, thats ok???
#4 by JiDuL at October 31st, 2011
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Hi,
Today I’m in the same situation as you, because I had made video games soundboard applications using free music sequenced by some fans. With that, I had published other applications and games with no infrigment.
But Google doesn’t care, he suspended my account. All are suspended now. The same frustration as you.
Today, the only solution is, as you said, to find a good partner. But I am still worried that Google finds a relation between this partner and me and suspends this account too.
Looking around the web too, we are a lot to be in the same case. I saw some people who relied totally on that income and who today…
Sorry for my English ! It’s not my mother tongue 😉
#5 by Rob at November 1st, 2011
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Where could I find one of your GoSMS themes now?
#6 by Tom Doyle at November 1st, 2011
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I’ve actually been avoiding uploading them anywhere now while I try get my account reinstated.
So far no joy!
#7 by mr k at November 8th, 2011
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Hi,
I got also one app suspended somewhere in september, I immediately unpublished other apps I thought were violating. For now I still have my account and I hope they will loosen up their “no mercy” policy in the future. They are scaring the hell out of developers. One mistake makes all of your work lost. I think they are loosing control of what is published on the market and they do panic ban runs.
#8 by Tom Doyle at November 8th, 2011
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I think this is the most worrying aspect of all.
I’ve recently been getting our clients to open their own accounts for their apps so that it does not effect anyone else. Whereas in the past I would have put all the apps on the one account.
#9 by mr k at November 8th, 2011
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I do think it’s possible to reopen a new account.
I think they can detect when you open a new account when you use the same keystore, use the same ip address to upload the apps. Think when you use a totally different name , computer to publish your new apps (obviously your old ones is a no go anymore) it’s possible. I hope when the market gets more mature the people behind it too … now they act like children by just banning people without any chance to correct the situation or even without a warning
#10 by mukesh at January 12th, 2012
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Google behave very bad with individual developers…
They have bannd my adsense account without any reasone …
#11 by Simon Platten at January 16th, 2012
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The worst aspect is that they’re doesn’t seem to be anyway of getting a dialog going with Google. Even if you know the office telephone number, you just get an automated response.
To much power…
#12 by milox at April 7th, 2012
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Just happened to me as well I had only legitimate apps…no explanation whatsoever. Although it is possible to create another account (a lot of work but it’s possible) I don’t really care, I’m tired of Google’s bullshit policies and random suspensions, I’m moving to Apple App Store and that’s what I recommend everyone thinking seriously about making living from apps. Yes, it’s costlier to start and Objective-C is weird, but at least you can sleep well at night not worrying if the next day you wake up you’ll find a dreaded email that your app/account was suspended forever because of some random crap.
#13 by Fang at July 21st, 2012
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My account was also suspended. I guess Google will detect whether an account is related to another account by the credit card number. The same ip seems will false alert.
Appeal with Google and still no reply. What a pity.
#14 by Pól Ó Duibhir at July 29th, 2012
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Hi Tom
I came to your site to get your email address to let you know I’m doing a talk on Martello Tower No.7 (Killiney) in the Dublin City Library & Archive in Pearse St. on 25 August 2012.
Then I saw your Google banning. I had a similar experience recently with Blogger. They “deleted” my blog because according to them I was spamming. I wasn’t and it was very upsetting. I had an awful job getting through to them. They do have an appeal mechanism but you never know where you are with them. I finally got the thing fixed up and my blog reinstated through a sort of semi-official Blogger forum. But the whole thing was Kafkaesque.
I have explained it here: http://bullsxvi.blogspot.ie/2012/02/deleted.html
Regards
Pól
#15 by Kim at August 29th, 2012
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My account was suspended yesterday. Will I still receive my payout in a few days???
#16 by Tom Doyle at September 3rd, 2012
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Yes you should do!
#17 by Kim at September 3rd, 2012
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Thanks for the answer Tom! Any experience with Apple? and if so, does the same apply?
#18 by Tom Doyle at September 5th, 2012
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Never been suspended by Apple
#19 by Lop at September 5th, 2012
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Tom, have you been able to open another publisher account ?
#20 by Tom Doyle at September 5th, 2012
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Have never tried, but I believe you can – although you’re not supposed to…
#21 by Kim at September 6th, 2012
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For all who wonder….. I have been paid by Google and Apple, so when u get suspended you STILL get the money you earned
I am getting ready to try to open a new developer account with Google and will keep you all posted.
With Apple…. I may just wait out the year and then they said I can become a developer again.
Thanks for this blog Tom and for always answering us
#22 by Lop at September 7th, 2012
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Kim, why did Apple banned you ? How was it ?
#23 by sik at September 8th, 2012
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Hi Tom,
In the same boat, google suspended my account, and same robotic replies. I had been day dreaming about all the success I am going to be in the near future, and one day woke up to read the suspension mail and everything vanished.. boooomm.. just like that!!
Even I am not keen to try to create a new account. I am wondering how iphone development would be, could you please share your experience about it?
#24 by Manfred at October 6th, 2012
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My account was suspended too, and I tried opening a new account with no association from the old account, then few hours later after uploading my “old apps”, it was suspended again. How does Google know if the app that was suspended from one account is the same app when you put it into another account which doesn’t associate with the first account in any other way? Package ID and App Name is also changed when re-uploaded the app.
#25 by aiohanar at January 17th, 2013
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I am rehan 20years old , two weeks back I created the google play account for past two weeks I was working day and night creating wallpaper apps. I uploaded around 20apps three days back and earned 42 dollars till today morning . I was happy and finally thought that I found a way to get some money for my living so that I can stop depending on my parents for my pocket money . I wasn’t aware of Google’s policy because they didn’t suspend any of my app !! I thought that I will unpublish if they warned me . !! but I didn’t get any warning too !!! I got warning that five of my apps got suspended five minutes after that when I was about to unpublish my app !! but I can’t able to login when I opened my mail I received email that my account got suspended ! I never let hope on anything !!! I lost all my hope and feeling really worried for loosing , money , energy and time for nothing !!!
#26 by zen kun at January 21st, 2013
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well i got suspended as well with any notice, not sure why i had some apps that google took down because copiright i inmediatly took down the others. so im kind upset
i reply google and seems they will not answer 
thats the problem.
well not sure what to do i was almost ready for release a new app , but i guess i will need a new developer account but i need get another credit card
and i guess i should not upload my “old apps” (even changing package name,id, and ui).
so i will try get a new developer account (i will use a VPN just in case, and i will use my mom credit card, and a fake address) but im wondering now, should i change my admob account as well? i was using admob but not sure if “google” noticed im using an admob account and they will put it down again my developer account.
And last if i use my my mom credit card, for example if instead free i want “sell” my app, i dont remember well if google pay to the registered credit card or if i can add another card (like paypal) but if i add my bank account they will noticed its another developer account?
Thanks for any thoughs
#27 by nanom1t at March 16th, 2013
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The same story… I worked hard day and night for a month. I developed more than 30 apps with wallpapers but Google banned my account((
#28 by droidaemon at April 1st, 2013
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I was banned for several times
. after that i spent lots of hours to investigate how google knows it’s me creating these accounts. Google much change this for developers.
#29 by sameh at April 1st, 2013
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after I reached 240$ earning a day, I was publishing free apps pointing to youtube and wiki and free html5 games online.
I got suspended…
Although Google play is full of apps just like mine
This is so bad.
#30 by youtube philipsjakarta at April 14th, 2013
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Just got suspended along with the Google wallet account. what a nightmare at Sunday. Woke up to get shocked.
Starting today I hate G@@gl3
#31 by Kimberly at May 11th, 2013
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HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS!!
I have been a Google Mobile App Developer for over 2 years now and am a little confused by the new payout schedule.
From My Merchant Google Wallet Dashboard:
Current Transaction Processing 5/1/13 – 5/31/13
Previous Month’s Payout Date 5/15/13
Next Payout Date 6/15/13
The first thing that confuses me is how can the Current Transaction Processing be for 5/1/2013 – 5/31/2013 if hasn’t even happened yet. Usually the Current Transaction Processing is the one just ended and the amount being processed is how much money you will get on the 15th.
The second thing is how can the PREVIOUS month’s payout date be 5/15/2013??? That date is in the future so how can it be my previous months payout. It should say 4/15/2013.
The third thing is the NEXT payout date should be 5/15/2013 NOT 6/15/2013.
These dates have been screwy like this since the payout date changed.
ALSO, in the past, every payday we are paid for ALL sales up until the cut off date. Used to be the 1st now it’s the 15th. But my last pay on 4/15/2013 was short $471. $471
I earned before the cut off date but was not paid MY money. WHY??????????
Any enlightenment would help me greatly!! I use my earnings to pay my bills and not knowing how much I can depend on STINKS!
Thanks TOM!!
#32 by John at September 5th, 2013
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My account was suspended too, I don’t know the exactly root cause. Hate google !!!
Should I change the ad mob account too? Because I used the same email along with google developer account!
#33 by Seth at February 21st, 2014
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Me too! No idea why. No information telling me about what they think the violation is or who my accuser is. WTF is that?
#34 by jeni at March 20th, 2014
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I think google doesn’t respect developers. They don’t need to because they have lots of devs around there . They have evil intentions. Just because of devs like us play store has so many apps. now google just want to eliminate lots of developers because they just don’t need any more devs. Don’t waste your time with android just develop windows mobile / apple apps.
Google is evil.
#35 by jeni at March 20th, 2014
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They copied everything from every company like apple, microsoft, even small website developers. They stole ideas from others and earns through its users private data. They develop products through developers like us for free. Now they simply don’t need us because everything they have stolen!.
Really a very cunning and evil plan. Hope ms to rise yep this is the time for Microsoft windows phone.
#36 by jeni at March 20th, 2014
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Dear affected developers
Here sign this petition http://goo.gl/ixfBFl and lets ask google to correct this. Hope they will!.
#37 by pradeep at April 26th, 2014
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Even my accounts are suspended
I had some 30 apps and was earning 200$ per day with lots of hopes and plans with that money.Now everything is gone
The reason is same address and credit of your suspended account.
Also ,the suspended accounts apps should not be used in your new account with same name ,UI ,package . .
What should be done in future:
1)Create new account with different credit card,address and IP address (yes no other way to .Even your IP should be different .So what i have planed is ,i will develop it and ask my friend to upload the app for me).
2)Next time try to make that app in such way it will never receive the warnings,so u can sustain for long time
3)Never upload the old apps with same name,UI and icons.
4)Try to delete the previous admob accounts and use the new created accounts and try to add the paypal.
5)Never put ur ads just near to buttons else u ll be given warnign.3 warnings and 3 apps suspended may result in account suspension.
#38 by Terry at August 4th, 2014
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My android play store developer account was also terminated by google. Now; Does anyone know whether my APPS have been banned too? In other words, can i give or sell my apps to another publisher? Will Google allow them to be published (again) at the play store by this publisher?
#39 by Dirty Fellow at October 4th, 2014
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So Google Screwed me too….
4 chart topping games and earning $80 a day.
Feeling lost and irritated, I was running a full blown Start up company off of this. Now will have to let go a few employees.
I also wanted to add to the comments above that if you do intend on relaunching your apps also remember to rename all of your C#, C++ or Java scripts too! And don’t use Admob, go for something else!
#40 by Riaz Ahmed at November 7th, 2014
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alot of people Do abuse the policy. But when its s GENUINE mitigating circumstance or the developer really IS NOT at fault, they wont give any chances at all!
Only few apps and accounts I seen reinstated like “Reddit is Fun” app which linked to pornographic content, BUT they had contacts inside Google who escalated the issue and Google gave them a chance to fix the app AND reupload!
But how many small developer has contacts at Google?!
So what does this mean?
It means if Google bothered to look at some of these appeals again they would and could cancel suspension, but they dont its prob automated or they just dont bother. It means it really about who you know as opposed to whether you are right or wrong! For example the develop of this app above, admitted he had those links in the app, so there WAS a breach but they WERe given another chance.
I had a problem with PINGJAM, advertising company based in Israel, who said they had contacts at Google and said their caller id ads were google compliant, so i used them in one or two apps. They were approved and were on for a few months. Then Google chnaged their policies and i did not know they would affect these ads, so Google suspended those apps WITHOUT warning or give me chance to remove pingjam from my apps,
This was stated on PIngJams Site;
“Q – Is Pingjam compliant with Google Developer Policy?
A – (August 24, 2013) – We are fully compliant. Pingjam strictly follows
all the guidelines and requirements set by the Google developer policy and
Play store”
So why should developer pay for this company falsly stating this. Then when Google changed policy they did not contact their customers or stop theis ads showing!
I think its a case of everyone paying for the real abuse thats done by hackers and other rogue developers. But should they not have the staff to deal with individual cases,
#41 by Issa at November 11th, 2014
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And is it working for you now ?
#42 by Riaz at July 19th, 2015
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The problem is EVERY developer is complaining. The big developers Google seems to “communicate” with in fact lot of the big companies have direct human contacts within Google, as they provide much needed business.
But small independent developers dont have a voice. It is too strict, the appeal process is non existent.
If you say had ONE strike, and then none for two years, that would say that yes this developer has learnt from his mistake, lets remove this strike and give clean slate. So the strikes are removed after x number of years etc…
My account got suspended due to mistake by Google:
http://rafhelp.wix.com/helpraf
Their policies SPECIFICALLY relate to PUBLISHED apps, i read all their policies carefully. They suspended a new UNPUBLISHED app i only submitted for BETA testing! This is private backend testing, only people you invite to TEST the game BEFORE publishing can see it. That means you as a developer still have time to fix up any non policy compliant issues.
But still they suspended it without warning and appeal has gone on for over 6 months, no reply.