Android-youtube-player: Rejected from Google Play for library use

[JakeSteam]

Unfortunately I don't have many details, but I believe this library caused an app to be rejected from Google Play.

Not sure which terms of service in particular was broken, just a heads-up.

I reviewed [app], and had to reject it because it violates our device and network abuse policy. If you submitted an update, the previous version of your app is still live on Google Play.

Here’s how you can submit your app for another review:

• Your app shouldn’t access or use a service or API in a manner that violates its terms of service. For example, make sure your app doesn’t download, monetize, or access YouTube videos in a way that violates the YouTube Terms of Service.
• Read through the Device and Network Abuse policy for more details and examples.
• Make sure your app is compliant with all other policies listed in the Developer Program Policies. Remember that additional enforcement could occur if there are further policy issues with your apps.
• Sign in to your Developer Console and submit your app.

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

Hi, are you pausing the video when the player is not visible?
With this player is possible to keep the audio going even when the app is not in the foreground. But reproducing videos while not showing the video stream to the user is against their terms of services.

[JakeSteam]

Yep. It's in a recyclerview, and gets stopped as soon as it goes off-screen (for memory saving, but also to obey ToS). Might just be the reviewer making a mistake, have resubmitted.

Thanks for the prompt reply.

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

Uhm, yeah it must be.
I have had an app on the store for more than year now. Also the library is basically a wrapper around the IFrame API, it shouldn't give any problem!
Keep me posted about the resubmission!!

[JakeSteam]

I have another (extremely similar) app using it, approved ~30 days ago, so who knows!

Will do, thanks for the excellent library.

[JakeSteam]

Resubmission was approved, thanks for your help.

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

perfect :)

[pralgomathic]

I got the same reply from them. please suggest me what to do. I paused the video while screen goes of (with using broadcast receiver)

Your app shouldn’t access or use a service or API in a manner that violates its terms of service. For example, make sure your app doesn’t download, monetize, or access YouTube videos in a way that violates the YouTube Terms of Service.
Read through the Device and Network Abuse policy for more details and examples.
Make sure your app is compliant with all other policies listed in the Developer Program Policies. Remember that additional enforcement could occur if there are further policy issues with your apps.
Sign in to your Developer Console and submit your app.

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

As Jake did, try to resubmit your app. The library by itself does not violates YouTube terms of service. Let me know if they accept it or not.

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

If they reject it again, send me your apk. Maybe your app is doing something wrong.

[pralgomathic]

check your mail..

[pralgomathic]

resubmit means, upgrade the apk or create new application (on play store)?

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

I don't see any issue in your app.
The app's name on the store may be problematic, it should be explicit that the app uses YouTube but is not affiliated to the company. What people usually do is to use this format for the name: app_name for YouTube, app_name for Reddit.. etc. eg: my app is called Shuffly for YouTube.

I'm not sure what do you have to do to resubmit an app, I have never done it. Maybe @JakeSteam can help with that.

[pralgomathic]

changed app name, created new app, resubmitted and got rejection again! 😭😭

[pralgomathic]

for the same reason I've specified above..

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

they're still saying you're violating the YouTube Terms of Service? read them to understand if you're doing something wrong or not.

[pralgomathic]

I've added Banner and Video Ads, is it violating YouTube policy ?

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

Idk about video ads. I have banners in Shuffly and never had a problem.

[pralgomathic]

I was appealed for reinstatement , they replied with

"your app displays third party ads while YouTube video is playing"

Don't know it's the only reason or not, they also added app is violating "Device And Network Abuse Policy"

[pralgomathic]

my app is live now, approved 😁
link to check : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grefeed.pralgomathic.youtubelivenow

[naseemali925]

@PierfrancescoSoffritti I Am facing the same issue. My app got rejected 2 times by play store. Could you please find some time to check my app? It would be a great help.

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

@naseemali925 sure!

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

The YouTubePlayerViews in the list are half covered. Also the playback doesn't stop when changing tab in the ViewPager.

Playing the audio without showing the video is against YouTube terms of service.

[naseemali925]

But As @JakeSteam Said. The Player Should Stop Itself When It Goes Of The Screen. As It Is Inside A Recycler View. Do I Need To manually Pause The Video?

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

Yes you do. The player automatically pauses only when the Activity/Fragment goes off screen. Everything else is up to you. You can look at the sample app if you need examples.

[naseemali925]

I Will Make The Required Changes. Thanks For The Help.

[naseemali925]

@PierfrancescoSoffritti Thanks For All Your Help. My App Is Published Successfully Now.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=softpro.abhitak

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

You're welcome :) good luck with your project!!

[Kostyshina]

Hello, thank you for your library, but I also have few questions about YouTube Terms of use and Developer Policy:

1. Developer Policy D.1.d - in that case you don't use any credentials so there is nothing that can be against the policy
2. YouTube Terms of use - for some countries (not US) there is 5.1.C term that said that we cannot access content through any technology other than provided by YouTube. But in this case you just get IFrame API and put it in WebView so nothing violates the terms also
   Am I correct on these two cases ?

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

Yes, correct.

[nicktz9]

Hello, Thank you very much for your library. I got the same issue in recent days. The official mentioned that we block the advertisement when the video is playing. I'm curious about the all advertisements are controlled by iFrame API why they still remove my APP from Google Play. Have you got this issue before?

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

The official mentioned that we block the advertisement when the video is playing.

What does this mean?

Are you sure it's not about your own ads (admob etc)? I remember reading a rule about that in the terms of service.

[nicktz9]

They use a video with ad to compare my application with YouTube application and mentioned there is no ad on mine but YouTube has. I don't know why because I use IFrame API to implement player, therefore the ad should be controlled by them. I am confused about this violation. :(

There are no ads in my application, it is 100% for free.

[PierfrancescoSoffritti]

I suggest you reach out/re upload your app, sometimes Google Play makes mistakes. Let me know what happens.

[nicktz9]

Thank you! I will let you know if there is any update.