Due to a random review of the app by Google finding a Google Play policy violation, after a failed appeal, I had to issue an update to Google Play (SeriesGuide 2025.2.7) that removes links to third-party websites if your device country or region is set to one outside the European Economic Area.
Users that have installed the app from the official GitHub repository or through Amazon Appstore are not affected.
Details for those interested:
Apparently Google is now enforcing a very strict interpretation of the Google Play Payments policy (additional information and examples) which, among other things, prohibits leading users to payment methods other than Google Play Billing, for example using links.
Apparently, it is now also not allowed to link to any third-party website if users in any way can click through to a payment page. So linking to any Trakt websites, which contain links to their subscription service. Or linking to TMDB pages, which contain links to streaming services. Or linking to IMDB which offers a Pro subscription.
While I still wait on this update to get final approval, some good news: yesterday (2025-07-31) a US court ordered injunction has come into effect after Google lost its appeal in the case against Epic Games. According to the injunction Google will be required (at least for 3 years) to stop enforcing this policy, including the requirement to use Google Play Billing when publishing on the Play Store in the US (Developers selling in the European Economic Area already theoretically are able to do this thanks to the Digital Markets Act).
Honestly, looking at that, I can’t see how it covers anything other than direct links to payment pages. I presume the relevant clause is the prohibition of: “In-app user interface flows, including account creation or sign-up flows, that lead users from an app to a payment method other than Google Play’s billing system as part of those flows.”
Once you’ve linked to a website such as IMDB, assuming the site opens outside of your app, then any further action taken by a user on the IMDB website, such as would be required to reach a payment page, is no longer part of your app’s “in-app user interface flow.”
Strict enforcement in the way you describe would result in, for example, browser apps being banned because it’s possible to reach non-Google payment pages via their in-app user interface flow (i.e., visiting and interacting with arbitrary websites).
I don’t see how your app can be held responsible for any actions taken on websites external to the app, unless you directly link to or instruct the user how to reach the non-Google payment pages.
Thanks. But it doesn’t matter how you or I interpret their rules (I argued some time with the person responsible), but how the people working at or for Google do. I was given concrete examples of violations, the links to IMDB among them.
Maybe to make this more clear: I am not looking for sympathy or analysis (if you have an issue with this, I believe time is better spent on political action to change this). I shared this for information (for example for other developers) and transparency (on why the features had to be removed).
Thanks, at any rate, for making the full version of the app available via Obtainium. I blocked automatic updates on the Play Store and updated from Obtainium today, and I have my IMDB, TMDB and Trakt links back.
Movie details: adjust buttons to be more similar to episodes, other minor improvements.
2025.2 will be the last release available on devices running Android 5.0 and 5.1.
This release is rolling out now for devices with Android 5 and newer.