Too much money was taken from users for apps: this is how Google wants to buy its way out of the market, how the hyped YouTube format ‘Survival Squad’ ended in a debacle

In the US, Google is willing to pay $700 million and make changes to its Android app store to settle a lawsuit brought by dozens of US states. This is evident from a settlement reached in September, the details of which were published on Tuesday evening.

The states accused Google of taking too much money from users through the mandatory levy of up to 30 percent on the purchase of apps and digital content. The app providers pay the fee, but they usually pass the costs on to the buyers.

Large total amount, small amounts for individual victims

Google wants to contribute $630 million to a fund for payments to American consumers.

This is unlikely to make much money for any individual. According to state calculations, approximately 102 million users in the US are entitled to such a payment. They assume that 70 percent will immediately use it electronically. Google wants to give states an extra $70 million for their payments.

As part of the settlement, Google also announced that alternative payment methods for purchasing apps and digital content will be available in the US App Store in more cases than before, in addition to its internal billing system.

Then there’s the legal dispute with Epic Games

The group initially lost a case involving the app store system last week. After a lawsuit from game developer Epic Games, a jury in San Francisco concluded that Google has acquired a monopoly in the field of apps on the Android smartphone platform through unfair competition.

The consequences of the Epic procedure are still unclear: Google wants to appeal, and the judge will have to decide next year what conditions the company will face as a result of the jury’s verdict.

(dsc/sda/awp/dpa)