5 days ago
Google Agrees £260 Million Settlement in UK App Developer Case
Google has agreed to pay money to settle a legal case brought by app developers in the UK.
The developers said Google charged unfairly high commissions through its Play Store.
Barry Rodger brought the case on behalf of the developers.
A court must still decide whether to approve the settlement.
That decision is expected at a hearing in September.
Developers living in the UK may be included if they sold digital content through Play Store apps from August 2018.
They can choose not to participate by opting out.
Another case involving UK Android phone users is still continuing.
Alphabet has agreed to pay £260 million ($354 million) to settle a UK class action against Google.
The claim alleged that Google charged excessive and unfair commissions on transactions through the Play Store.
The action was brought for UK app developers by competition law professor Barry Rodger.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal is due to consider approving the settlement at a September hearing.
UK-domiciled developers that sold digital content through Play Store apps from August 2018 may be eligible unless they opt out.
- Who
- Alphabet, Google, and UK app developers represented by competition law professor Barry Rodger.
- What
- Alphabet agreed to pay £260 million to settle allegations that Google charged excessive and unfair Play Store commissions.
- Where
- The case concerns UK-domiciled app developers and will be considered by the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal.
- When
- The eligibility period begins in August 2018; the settlement approval hearing is scheduled for September.
- Why
- The claim alleged that Google abused its dominance and imposed excessive commissions on transactions through the Play Store.
Key facts
- Settlement amount
- £260 million ($354 million)
- Defendant
- Alphabet, the parent company of Google
- Claim
- Alleged excessive and unfair commissions for Play Store transactions
- Potential beneficiaries
- UK-domiciled app developers who meet the eligibility conditions
- Eligibility period
- Digital content sold through Play Store-distributed apps from August 2018
- Approval body
- Competition Appeal Tribunal
- Settlement status
- Subject to approval at a hearing in September
- Other legal action
- A separate class action for millions of UK Android phone users remains pending
Quotes
Damien Geradin
Lawyer representing the UK app developers
“This is the largest settlement to date”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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