Google Play Account FIXED!!

[Paul]

I finally got through to Google, and my developer account has been fixed!  They even sent me an automated email that I can re-publish Mupen64Plus AE.

Thanks to everyone for helping to make a big deal about the bogus DMCA situation.  While we may never know what all went into Google's decision, I am pretty sure my complaints would have gone unnoticed without the support of a great community.

[Paul]

I'm not sure whether to re-publish the original app that was taken down first, or re-publish the second one with the renamed package-name that was taken down second.  There are advantages and disadvantages with either option.

The advantage of re-publishing the original app, is that it has the higher installs count and a longer history (and it would be a nice slap-in-the-face to Brad who started this whole thing by taking that one down).  Also, fewer users would have to re-purchase the app, since there are already over 50,000 installs if I remember right, compared to like 5,000 installs with the second one.  The disadvantage of re-publishing the original, is that I've already changed the github repository to reflect the new package name.  I would need to push an update to change it back, which would affect the other devs currently working on the code.

The advantage of re-publishing the second app, is that it has a higher rating (since the first version published for this one was more developed).  Also, it has the same package name as whats in the github repository.  The disadvantage is that it has a lower installs count and not as rich a history, since it wasn't up for very long before it got DMCA'd.

What does everyone think?  I'm leaning toward putting the original one back up, I think.

Also, what are everyone's thoughts on the free version?  Should I keep Trev's app up on Google Play, or remove it and re-publish the original free app?  I think Trev's app has a higher installs count.  But then it is free, so wouldn't be a huge deal for folks to switch to the other app.  The advantage of removing Trev's app and re-publishing the original free app, would be if my account winds up banned again from more bogus DMCA's (not sure if Google has actually fixed the underlying problem yet), then I could simply re-publish on Trev's account again.

What do you guys think?

[Paul]

While my Google Play account is back up and running, my Google Checkout Merchant account still has problems (I won't be able to receive payments until I figure out how to fix it).  There is a page to apply for account reinstatement, but I have no idea how to get some of the items they are asking for.

First of all, I am not a business, so obviously I don't have a business license.

Secondly, how am I supposed to supply receipts or order tracking numbers if I can't access the account (kind of a chicken-or-the-egg deal, isn't it?)

There is the following section in there:

If you are unable to submit any of the above documents, please provide further explanation in the "Additional information" field below, and make sure to provide specific reasoning for each omitted document.  If we do not receive all the requested documentation, and you do not provide an additional explanation, your account will not be eligible for reinstatement.

So I could apply for checkout merchant account reinstatement without all the required documents, with an explanation that I CAN'T provide all the required documents because I can't access the account.  But then if I don't hear back from Google, then I'll have no idea if they are still working on the issue, or if they denied the request.

Oh, well, at this point I'm just happy to have my developer account and apps back.  I'll think about the merchant account issue some more before I do anything.  Maybe I can find some other folks who have gone through this process before who have some advice.

[trev186]

I am Glasgow hear things are.moving along !

We should strategize a way of getting Mupen 64 Ae back in your hands and out from under my name.

Maybe a new branch with some updates (I know u were planning a ks eventually)

I can always update the app desc for the current version to say that any new version u come out with is what the users should download and that the old version will no longer be updated

[trev186]

I say put the original one back

[Paul]

I can always update the app desc for the current version to say that any new version u come out with is what the users should download and that the old version will no longer be updated

That's along the lines of what I'm thinking, too.  I haven't logged into your account and I'd like to keep it that way so it isn't associated with me through IP or any other metadata (in case my account gets targeted again by the crazies and Google's DMCA-review system is still screwed up).  So pointing folks to the "official" free version for a while from your app, and then eventually un-publishing it.

I think what I'll do is write a special update for your branch, which changes the icon to have a crossed-out symbol over it, and upon running the app it will show a pop-up dialog with a message explaining the situation, with information on moving over your save-games after installing the "official" version.

I won't do any of this until I figure out how to fix my merchant checkout account issue first, though.

[Tom.K]

I say put the original one back

Same, and make sure to remove screenshots just in case.

[Tripod]

Congratulations Paul!  It's about damn time they sorted this out (well partially).

The advantage of re-publishing the original app, is that it has the higher installs count and a longer history (and it would be a nice slap-in-the-face to Brad who started this whole thing by taking that one down).  Also, fewer users would have to re-purchase the app, since there are already over 50,000 installs if I remember right, compared to like 5,000 installs with the second one.

Sounds like the better option.

[Epic_bubble]

Awesome news! I say go for the first one.

[jacklebott]

I vote to go for the first option, just as a kick in the teeth to the guy who took you down to begin with. On the matter of repurchases, even if you upload a totally newly package-named app, I'd rebuy it in a heartbeat

[Paul]

I submitted everything I could to request my checkout merchant account to be reinstated, and was very clear about the documents that couldn't be attached, because I can't access the account, and that I am an individual developer not a licensed business.

If it doesn't work out, I did a little research and figured out that there is a process now for transferring a developer account's apps from one gmail account you own to another (it's basically a bass-ackwards way Google came up with for changing the gmail address associated with your developer account).  This overly-complicated process could be exploited to transfer all my apps to a new gmail account that does not currently have a checkout merchant account associated with it yet, and then create a new checkout merchant account after the transfer is complete.  A bit of a hassle, but it is an option if the reinstatement process doesn't pan out.

I tried to contact Google support about the problem, to maybe at least get an automated email that addresses the "chicken-or-the-egg" issue with the account reinstatement application.  Well, let's just say that didn't work.  Am I the only one who sees a problem with this page? (notice the instructions for obtaining the required Merchant ID)

[Paul]

I got an automated response from Google Checkout support today.  The problem isn't fixed yet, but at least it is encouraging in that it shows my request hasn't been rejected (yet anyway), and that it was received and sent to someone for processing.  Hopefully it won't take as long for them to fix this problem as it did for them to fix my developer account!

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. To ensure a faster resolution, I’ve forwarded your message to our specialists. We’ll respond with additional information as soon as possible.

In the meantime, feel free to contact us again if you have further questions. We appreciate your patience.

Sincerely,

The Google Checkout Team

[Rotary Heart]

I did a factory reset and my phone got Mupen installed from playstore Congratz!!!

[trev186]

My account was hacked once and google made me go through a similar process to be able to purchase applications again.

They sent a similar list (no business license requested)

I sent them what files applied in my situation and after about a week I had everything back

[anthony001]

does this mean that you will start updating mupen once you've fix the remaining problem on your account?