Google starts removing apps from Play Store for not paying service fee

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New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Google on Friday began removing some apps, including popular matrimony apps, from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments...

It did not name the firms but a search of Play Store on android phones did not give results for matrimonial apps such as Shaadi, Matrimony.com and Bharat Matrimony..

In a blog post, Google said 10 Indian companies had chosen for an extended period of time not to pay for the immense value they receive on Google Play.. For years, no court or regulator has denied Google Plays right to charge, it said, adding that the Supreme Court on February 9 also refused to interfere with its right to do so.. Google asserted that allowing a small group of developers to get differential treatment from the vast majority of developers who are paying their fair share creates an uneven playing field putting all other apps and games at a competitive disadvantage...

Today, we have over 2,00,000 Indian developers using Google Play who adhere to our policies, helping us ensure we have a safe platform; however, for an extended period of time, 10 companies, including many well-established ones, have chosen to not pay for the immense value they receive on Google Play by securing interim protections from the court, it said...

Snehil Kahnor, Co-founder and CEO of Truly Madly, said, despite a clear order from CCI to not restrict app developers from using third-party payment services and to not take any adverse measures against apps, Google is forcing apps to remove other gateways and only use its billing systems and pay them 15-30 per cent commission...

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