Google’s googly has confounded digital companies and the government

Posted on:
Key Points

Googles stance on charging the apps on its store for a significant percentage of their business has left digital companies and the government in the same state as a batsman facing a googly..

The issue started with Google charging 30% of revenues (not profits) earned by digital companies through the apps hosted on the Google Play Store..

Therefore, digital companies had dragged Google to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for Play Store policies that require app developers to exclusively and mandatorily use the Google Play Billing System (GPBS) for receiving payments for apps..

Also, Google Play Store conditions stop app developers from providing users with a link from their app to a web page that allows them to pay using payment gateways other than Googles..

Even as the case remains sub-judice in the Supreme Court, things came to a head this week when Google unilaterally decided to delist a bunch of popular Indian apps from its store, on charges of the apps no paying Googles charges, which have since then been brought down to under 15% of revenues..

You might be interested in

Competition watchdog orders probe against Google for Playstore pricing policy. What's the issue?

15, Mar, 24

Competition Commission of India (CCI) probes Google for alleged anti-competitive practices on Play Store pricing policy

Google agrees to reinstate delisted Indian apps on Play Store after govt intervention

05, Mar, 24

Google had on Friday removed from its Play Store apps from a dozen of developers, including popular ones by Matrimony.com and job search app Naukri, for non compliance with its in-app payment guidelines.

A Jury Will Decide If Google's App Store Is an Unjust Monopoly

01, Nov, 23

'Fortnite' developer Epic has pushed back on Google’s control of the Android app store. The courtroom showdown could force the search giant to offer users more apps, at more affordable prices.

Google rejected Play Store fee changes fearing hit on revenue

24, Dec, 23

International Business News: Google considered changing its app store pricing model to circumvent regulatory crackdown, but abandoned proposal to charge set fee per app due to pot

Google is paying $700 million to settle antitrust charges over Play Store

19, Dec, 23

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has offered to pay $700 million and to make some changes to the Play Store as it tries to resolve the antitrust com

Google bans Chinese apps that allegedly spied on users

22, Mar, 23

Google is also sending out notifications to the users who have downloaded these apps to remove them from their device immediately.

Google Play down: Indian users face trouble downloading apps

25, Apr, 23

Google Play Store is currently down for users across the world.

Google’s App Store Power Goes on Trial

07, Nov, 23

The legal fight with Epic Games is the latest challenge over agreements the search company struck with mobile phone makers.

Google Play Store will soon allow users to download multiple apps at the same time

08, Mar, 24

Google Play Store is reportedly testing a feature to enable simultaneous downloads of multiple apps. This move, long-awaited by Android users, will likely enhance the overall user experience on the Play Store.