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While I understand what you're saying here, I would guess that it's seen as bypassing the intent of the rules, if not their specific wording. If I put an app u
by RHSeeger 5y ago
While I understand what you're saying here, I would guess that it's seen as bypassing the intent of the rules, if not their specific wording.
If I put an app up on the app store for free, then link to my site and ask for donations, I am effectively using the app store for free. The app in question is effectively setup to say "you don't need to pay for this app, but we would really like you too"... and then the payment is handled outside the play store. Arguing over whether it should be called payment or a donation doesn't really change the fact that is it the user giving money to the developer because of the app; the app they got on the play store. That's the behavior that the rule in intended to avoid.
- jfrunyon 5y agoIf Google's intent is to ban donations to an app creator, then why does it explicitly say "if they require or accept payment for access to features or services, including any app functionality, digital content or goods"? Frankly it seems to me that the intent of the rules is to specifically allow asking for payment/"donation" outside of Play so long as nothing in your app is affected by it.
- RHSeeger 5y agoI read the intent as disallowing the use of the app store to distribute an app that you make money on, without paying for the use of the app store. It seems as simple as that. And "this app is free, but please come give me money for it" is a way of doing just that.
- jfrunyon 5y agoAgain, "if they require or accept payment for access to features or services"