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posted by martyb on Friday September 19 2014, @04:22PM   Printer-friendly
from the where-you-at? dept.

The Developer Console for the Google Play Store has a notification that from the 30th September, all listing will require a physical address to be shown on the app details page. The notification states:

Add a physical contact address Beginning September 30, 2014, you need to add a physical address to your Settings page. After you've added an address, it will be available on your app's detail page to all users on Google Play. If your physical address changes, make sure to update your information on your Settings page.

If you have paid apps or apps with in-app purchases, it's mandatory to provide a physical address where you can be contacted, as you are the seller of that content, to comply with with consumer protection laws. If you don't provide a physical address on your account, it may result in your apps being removed from the Play Store.

Thus far there have been no explanation for the requirement, with some speculation that it may be to satisfy a legal requirement for merchants to provide a physical address, with some concerned about how it could impact independent developers.

 
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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by MrGuy on Friday September 19 2014, @05:06PM

    by MrGuy (1007) on Friday September 19 2014, @05:06PM (#95567)

    Money laundering? The IRS? It's quite a leap to get them into this discussion, especially when it seems like the stated purpose (consumer protection laws) seems like a reasonable explanation for the change.

    The US is a patchwork of jurisdictions, but I'm aware of at least some states where this is indeed the case (if you sell online to residents of that state, you need to have a physical address on file at which you can be contacted in the event of a dispute). In other words, you need to be contactable by more than an e-mail address.

    Here's where I suspect (especially given the wording) this is coming from (IANAL). Note the following language: "If you have paid apps or apps with in-app purchases...you are the seller of that content..." (emphasis mine)

    What I suspect is that Google is trying to do is disclaim any ownership of the in-app transaction. Probably because they want to shield themselves from having GOOGLE get sued if someone's kid purchases $6,000 worth of shiny beads. So, they're taking the position that "Oh, we're not selling that in-app purchase. The DEVELOPER is!" If someone complains to the state department of consumer protection about an in-app purchase, Google wants to have a plausible "it's not us you want" defense. "No, no, we weren't the seller! We're just the compensated transaction processor."

    They probably need to do something like that, because Google is the one who actually takes the money. The consumer could claim "I have a transaction with Google, and Google's settling up with their developer is none of my business." In that case, the consumer can take up a dispute with Google. Google wants to claim that, like a bank processing a credit card transaction, they're not the owner of the transaction.

    For that to be true, Google is making sure that their app developers with in-app purchase capability are complying with state consumer protection laws. They want to show "We do everything we can to ensure the developers using our channel comply with state consumer protection laws."

    I suspect their legal team looked at some state laws and, where the developer had no contact address, Google was either actually or at least potentially on the hook for a lawsuit. So they're cleaning it up. Look for a similar change to their terms of service (if it's not already there) requiring Google Play developers to acknowledge THEY are the sellers, not Google, for in-app purchases - if it's not there now, it's clearly coming.

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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 19 2014, @05:47PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 19 2014, @05:47PM (#95577)

    This. Google just wants someone else to be responsible for in app purchases. They just paid out a bundle* [computerworld.com] on this because it was easier than trying to track down the app makers responsible. This makes it easier for them to point at the app developer and say "talk to so and so".

    * although to Google bundle may be more like a pittance, still real money though...

    • (Score: 2, Interesting) by TheB on Friday September 19 2014, @08:07PM

      by TheB (1538) on Friday September 19 2014, @08:07PM (#95632)

      ^^^ Mod AC parent up. I would, but Soylent only gives me modpoints once a month at most.

  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by frojack on Friday September 19 2014, @06:04PM

    by frojack (1554) on Friday September 19 2014, @06:04PM (#95579) Journal

    I suspect their legal team looked at some state laws and, where the developer had no contact address, Google was either actually or at least potentially on the hook for a lawsuit.

    I doubt the Google lawyers got bored an started reading state laws.

    I suspect this fell out of a court case somewhere, which Google probably quietly settled, but now realizes that they have a huge exposure not only in specific states, but also inter-state (meaning Federal jurisdiction) as well as Internationally.

    Its not an unreasonable requirement and will lead to (at least the appearance of) more protection for consumers.

    As someone who paid for an app that didn't work for more than a month, and who couldn't contract the developer I can see this as a good idea.

    --
    No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
  • (Score: 2) by Thexalon on Friday September 19 2014, @08:22PM

    by Thexalon (636) on Friday September 19 2014, @08:22PM (#95641)

    Put me in the "Not a big deal" category: If you're a business, you're eventually going to have some sort of address registered with *somebody*. If it's one guy working out of his house, that address might be his house, but some of the other entities that probably already have that address for that business include:
    - Any banks the business has accounts with
    - The IRS
    - Whatever state they're in, if incorporated in any way (including LLCs)
    - Any company that sells to that business
    - Any customer that you have to bill or invoice
    - The DNS registrar, and (depending on TLD and jurisdiction) the WHOIS entry.

    Now, I understand some people don't like being identified, ever, but if you're going to be taking money from somebody, it's important to know enough about who you are (and an email address is far to ephemeral) so you can be held responsible if you don't deliver on your promises. And as another poster pointed out, if you're trying to avoid giving out your home address, pay for a box at UPS or something and use that.

    --
    The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 20 2014, @07:36AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 20 2014, @07:36AM (#95783)

      The issue that I have is not so much that you have to leave the address, but that it is viewable by everyone. That opens up a big abuse potential. Yes, if you have a valid complaint with an app, there probably should be a way to get the contact data from Google. But having it available to everyone without restrictions is a really bad idea.

      • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Sunday September 21 2014, @02:18AM

        by kaszz (4211) on Sunday September 21 2014, @02:18AM (#96115) Journal

        For a precedent on this mess. I encourage everyone to look at the DNS "contact details".

        In other words, this ain't viable. It will crash in contact with reality..

        Btw, you can always contact me at:
        Drug house
        123 Inhalation street
        Crocktown
        FD5Y 2KJ
        Neverland

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 20 2014, @07:31AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 20 2014, @07:31AM (#95782)

    If it is not Google who sells the app, then how is it justified they get a share of the sales money? They offer that stuff on the web page, they process the payment, so they are the seller. Simple as that.

    And if it is really a legal requirement that the physical address is given, I'm sure it would be sufficient if it would only be accessible after a formal request to Google. After all, if you really have a case, that should not be much hassle; OTOH the fact that you'd explicitly have to contact Google (and therefore there would exist an explicit record that you requested that address) should vastly reduce the probability of misuse of that data.