Have a paid app in Google Play, Google wants to make your address public

In a controversial move, Google has decided to make it compulsory for the app developers with paid apps or apps with in-app purchases in Google Play to have a physical address on the record. This address will then be showcased in the public Google Play app listings, something that not every app developer is comfortable with.

Google on Thursday revealed this change in the Google Play Developer Console and noted that the developers have upto September 30 to add their address, who do not provide their physical address may see their app disbarred from the store.

“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,” Google wrote in the announcement.

Google Play is filled with indie developers, who work from their homes, and while the developers like Rovio or others, who have proper offices can put their office address in Google Play, the indie developers don’t want their home address appearing in public listings. Google is yet to say anything on the matter but we hope this gets resolved quickly.