Google sent out an email late yesterday detailing some new Google Developer Policy changes that will be taking effect that looks to take steps to reduce the number of shady apps and games, along with fake apps and anything else deemed suspicious on the Google Play store. Great news for legit developers who get their games cloned and for all of us who have to watch out for clones.
The policy changes are pretty straightforward but the changes they bring should number the days developers have on the Google Play store who release clone apps and games, fake games and generally release suspicious stuff. Here are the following changes:
– We’ve added clearer details to the payment policy, and guidelines on how we will handle cancellations in our new subscription billing feature
– We are restricting the use of names or icons confusingly similar to existing system apps in order to reduce user confusion
– We are providing more detail on the kinds of dangerous products that are not allowed on Google Play. For example, apps that disclose personal information without authorization are not allowed.
– We are giving more examples of practices that violate the spam policy.
Google is also adding a new section to the policy regarding ad behavior which will hopefully eliminate any suspicious ads. Ads must follow the same rules as the app itself and that they don’t “negatively affect the experience by deceiving consumers or using disruptive behavior such as obstructing access to apps and interfering with other ads.”
Overall these are some changes in the right direction for protecting customers regardless if they are downloading paid or free apps. Also great news for developers, especially those who end up getting their games ripped off and/or cloned in one way or another by shady developers looking to make a buck.
These policy changes take immediate effect and any new submissions to Google Play will fall under the new policy terms. Existing applications and games have 30 days to make sure they are adhering to the policy changes. Any that are caught violating the new terms will be removed from the Google Play store.
Official Website: Google Play Developer Policy
