Man… so effectively a lifetime ban? That is extremely harsh imho.
I think just asking you to remove the offending apps and issuing you with a warning would have sufficed. It’s especially unfair in this case due to the fact that everyone and their dog has apps on the Play store with numerous copyright violations.
I would keep fighting this, there must be a way through the robot barrier… do they have any kind of phone support service?
Yup - banned for life. I think it’s Google’s (over) reaction to all the rubbish that was/is on the store and they’re trying to tidy.
The three strikes and you’re out should, imho, be applied differently. I should have had one strike and given the opportunity to remove offending apps.
Anyone have a contact with a human response? Email preferred so I have something in writing. Honestly - account termination is more widespread than you think. Just Google it (ironic!).
I have signed a petition:
As is the way we these things - unless you’re affected you’re unlikely to sign.
It’s sheer maddening that I can’t easily discover if my AdMob account is in jeopardy. Not to mention all the violations on Google Play. One rule for all? Not a chance! Google should have a human reviewer. I really don’t want to put too much time into this and/or let it consume me.
What’s next for me?
Move on from Google Play. iOS is where my earnings have been thus far. I’ve already started uploading to Amazon (apps accepted by a human reviewer - no rejection - just like iOS). I’m now on eLance and oDesk … we’ll see what that brings.
Best of luck!
MAS1
For interest sake - you mentioned “3 emails - then the account termination email” - did the previous emails mention possible future repercussions - So you may have been unlucky to have all 3 strikes within the same day - i.e. no time to really react.
T.
Here is one of the 3 emails I received (all at the same time) for an app removal:
This is a notification that your application, XXX, with package ID YYY, has been removed from the Google Play Store.
REASON FOR REMOVAL : Violation of the intellectual property and impersonation or deceptive behavior provisions of the Content Policy. Please refer to the IP infringement andimpersonation policy help article for more information.
All violations are tracked. Serious or repeated violations of any nature will result in the termination of your developer account, and investigation and possible termination of related Google accounts. If your account is terminated, payments will cease and Google may recover the proceeds of any past sales and the cost of any associated fees (such as chargebacks and payment transaction fees) from you.
If your developer account is still in good standing, you may revise and upload a policy compliant version of your application as a new package name. Before uploading any new applications, please review the Developer Distribution Agreement and Content Policy.
If you feel we have made this determination in error, you can visit the Google Play Help Center article for additional information regarding this removal.
The Google Play Team
At the same time I also received the a/c termination email. Google gave me no time to remove offending content. I got all 3 strikes at once.
Arnold can sum it up for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy_BBBGBpqA
It probably easier to register a new account than to combat google’s lawyers. Set up a company, register it in your wife’s name, your dogs or whatever… 
It’s just not worth trying to register a new account. I’ve spent too much time reading other folks’ tales of woe re: Google Play account termination.
There’s plenty of examples where developers have used different credit cards, IP change, VPN, new laptop, new keystore, buying a GP account etc etc. Event conjecture about code and asset scanning and pattern matching to detect multiple app submissions/account registrations…
Pointless IMHO. No one outside Google really knows what methods they use to track and enforce lifetime bans. So many reported cases of people trying to get round Google only to find themselves banned again - repeatedly.
I’ve contacted Google again today using a form that (apparently) gets a human response. I’m asking about the standing of my AdMob account.
Not sure if it’s a waste of effort uploading to Amazon now that I have a Google Play lifetime ban. Time will tell…
Here’s what the Google CEO said (trying to maintain some humor about it - not easy!)
Ouch!
Best - MAS1
This is so bad. Immediate removal of the violating apps is fine… but termination of the developer account without a prior record of violations is really bad.
I’m devastated to be honest.
In the process of uploading to Amazon but it doesn’t have the reach of Google Play. To make matters worse, Vungle and Adbuddiz are non-Amazon Android only.
Termination for life. FOR LIFE FFS! 
Hurrah for Apple at least.
Honestly, I don’t want to publish on Android anymore. The possibility of any one app pulling down a whole house of cards is not a viable business model for me. I love Google Play Store for the ability to quickly publish and update apps but this possibility is adding too much stress to my shoulders.
The possibility of any one app pulling down a whole house of cards is not a viable business model for me.
I don’t think it was only one app in particular that caused this. MAS1 just happened to have 3 apps that they deemed were in violation, and then all of a sudden the 3 strikes-your-out was swiftly put into action in one blow without any chance at all to react.
This is the problem when there’s no approval process before an app goes live, and because of this, Google shouldn’t take such drastic measures as terminating a developer’s account with immediate effect without giving the developer a chance to correct whatever is wrong.
I think what Google should do is to tag the violating apps as unpublished, and contact the developer with the list of violating apps and explain the situation. If the developer still tries to publish them without proper modifications, only then, is a more drastic measure acceptable.
Given that the WorldCup in Brazil is still underway, I’m assuming that some legal juggernauts have been breathing down Google’s neck recently which has resulted in Google (over)reacting to apps that target the games.
I think this would be a more than acceptable win-win outcome.
As a person who has already dealt with IP stuff, you are swimming in dangerous waters. Google play taking you off is a favor really, if a firm who represents any of those come after you then you have the makings of something bad. Once they see that you’ve offended and keep doing it, then it goes from “Remove this to avoid litigation” to “You have shown lack of respect to the brands which you have infringed and in due course bla bla bla” the hammer comes down. The lifetime ban, is harsh I agree. Some warnings about it would have been nice, I agree with that too.
I formed a company and did everything under that, which I’m glad as it provided a layer of protection and was a VERY smart choice on my part. Hopefully that’s the case here. I do agree that Google’s way of just letting apps on the store is pretty silly, but also I think it’s the developer who should know better than to deal with anything that has a potential on it.
I’ve learned my lesson and until you really get served a notice or two and have to battle it out, it’s not something you want ever. EVER. Google banning you is the easy part, dealing with multiple firms that represent the company is what you want to avoid. Just letting you know my experience with it.
@nicholasclayg,
I take your points and I fully respect your perspective.
Having said that, I will most definitely not be removing those same quizzes (that got me banned from Google Play) from Amazon and iTunes. The Amazon and iTunes quizzes were approved by human reviewers and I am happy to run the risk that thousands of other developers are also running with the same types of quizzes on those stores. 
I did get to keep my AdMob account. Thanks Google - real nice of you!
But as for my Google Play account…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy_BBBGBpqA
Best wishes - Martin.
hi , here you all seems to be little bit in tension as your account are suspended by google
, i can help you with making new google play account.
so can catch me on skype or my mail : devduttc22@gmail.com
i would love to help you to make new account , will tell what all thing you need to keep in mind.
Little about my website
this website is for those who want to promote there app on playstore and don’t have revenue.
so its free for all. (www.reviewmyap.com)
Not in tension at all. Didn’t you see the Terminator link?
My account was not suspended. It was terminated.
Also, I am not stupid. Plenty of people have reported obtaining an illicit Google Play account after a ban only to have it terminated again after paying the account registration.
I will not be pursuing your offer under any conditions, even if it was for free.
As a person who has already dealt with IP stuff, you are swimming in dangerous waters. Google play taking you off is a favor really, if a firm who represents any of those come after you then you have the makings of something bad. Once they see that you’ve offended and keep doing it, then it goes from “Remove this to avoid litigation” to “You have shown lack of respect to the brands which you have infringed and in due course bla bla bla” the hammer comes down. The lifetime ban, is harsh I agree. Some warnings about it would have been nice, I agree with that too.
I formed a company and did everything under that, which I’m glad as it provided a layer of protection and was a VERY smart choice on my part. Hopefully that’s the case here. I do agree that Google’s way of just letting apps on the store is pretty silly, but also I think it’s the developer who should know better than to deal with anything that has a potential on it.
I’ve learned my lesson and until you really get served a notice or two and have to battle it out, it’s not something you want ever. EVER. Google banning you is the easy part, dealing with multiple firms that represent the company is what you want to avoid. Just letting you know my experience with it.
@nicholasclayg,
I take your points and I fully respect your perspective.
Having said that, I will most definitely not be removing those same quizzes (that got me banned from Google Play) from Amazon and iTunes. The Amazon and iTunes quizzes were approved by human reviewers and I am happy to run the risk that thousands of other developers are also running with the same types of quizzes on those stores.
I did get to keep my AdMob account. Thanks Google - real nice of you!
But as for my Google Play account…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy_BBBGBpqA
Best wishes - Martin.
hi , here you all seems to be little bit in tension as your account are suspended by google
, i can help you with making new google play account.
so can catch me on skype or my mail : devduttc22@gmail.com
i would love to help you to make new account , will tell what all thing you need to keep in mind.
Little about my website
this website is for those who want to promote there app on playstore and don’t have revenue.
so its free for all. (www.reviewmyap.com)
Not in tension at all. Didn’t you see the Terminator link?
My account was not suspended. It was terminated.
Also, I am not stupid. Plenty of people have reported obtaining an illicit Google Play account after a ban only to have it terminated again after paying the account registration.
I will not be pursuing your offer under any conditions, even if it was for free.