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Donations are not supported by in-app purchases, and I'm sure this doesn't mean open source apps are not allowed to sustain themselves by showing a donation lin

Donations are not supported by in-app purchases, and I'm sure this doesn't mean open source apps are not allowed to sustain themselves by showing a donation link. Or if that is Google's unwritten policy, people must make their voices heard, this abusive behavior cannot be accepted. I would resubmit the app with the donation link and continue to document and share what happened. Please do not allow them to set a precedent with a popular project like WireGuard. It's important to share every detail of the issue, the messages you received, your replies, and the policy links you were given about the alleged policy violations.

bipson 7y ago
I think what you are proposing is to make an ideological fight out of this issue, that is exactly what the author describes as "a huge time-drain that does not make the app better" and exactly the opposite of what he meant with "choose your battles". Let me say that I think you're morally right, but it is probably not a reasonable choice of actions for the author and the users of the app.
- dessant 7y ago
  There is no need for an ideological fight, because there is no written Google Play policy against donation links in apps. This is most likely a mistake made by the reviewer or an automated system, and I believe they should follow up on it to sort things out.
  - mcherm 7y ago
    > I believe they should follow up on it to sort things out. reply I'm sure you believe that. Do you work at Google in a position to supervise app reviews? Because if you do, then you can help straighten this out. If you don't, then it is hopeless. Technically, Google has the right to drop any app for any reason whether it is fair or not (so suing them or something isn't an option). OP already followed the ONLY channel that Google provides (an "appeal" handled, I presume, by a bot that generally issues quick, automated rejections. Sure, I wish Google had a better policy, with some sort of genuine appeal policy which included genuine human review, followed a consistent policy, and most likely had a public record of decisions... but they don't.
    - adambyrtek 7y ago
      I wouldn't assume up front that any action is hopeless. There are many Googlers on this forum and issues like that get forwarded and discussed internally. Google has Open Source Programs Office which used to have a lot of clout inside the company, at least at the time when I worked there.
geofft 7y ago
You are effectively proposing to spend the donated money on improving the Play Store instead of on improving Wireguard.

bipson 7y ago

I think what you are proposing is to make an ideological fight out of this issue, that is exactly what the author describes as "a huge time-drain that does not make the app better" and exactly the opposite of what he meant with "choose your battles". Let me say that I think you're morally right, but it is probably not a reasonable choice of actions for the author and the users of the app.

dessant 7y ago
There is no need for an ideological fight, because there is no written Google Play policy against donation links in apps. This is most likely a mistake made by the reviewer or an automated system, and I believe they should follow up on it to sort things out.
- mcherm 7y ago
  > I believe they should follow up on it to sort things out. reply I'm sure you believe that. Do you work at Google in a position to supervise app reviews? Because if you do, then you can help straighten this out. If you don't, then it is hopeless. Technically, Google has the right to drop any app for any reason whether it is fair or not (so suing them or something isn't an option). OP already followed the ONLY channel that Google provides (an "appeal" handled, I presume, by a bot that generally issues quick, automated rejections. Sure, I wish Google had a better policy, with some sort of genuine appeal policy which included genuine human review, followed a consistent policy, and most likely had a public record of decisions... but they don't.
  - adambyrtek 7y ago
    I wouldn't assume up front that any action is hopeless. There are many Googlers on this forum and issues like that get forwarded and discussed internally. Google has Open Source Programs Office which used to have a lot of clout inside the company, at least at the time when I worked there.

geofft 7y ago

You are effectively proposing to spend the donated money on improving the Play Store instead of on improving Wireguard.