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The Internet company Google has agreed to pay 700 million dollars (around $641 million euros) in the dispute over its Play Store program platform. Of this, €630 million would go to US states, which would then compensate consumers, according to the agreement published on Monday by a US federal court in San Francisco. The remaining money is intended to cover penalties and other costs that Google has to pay. Google also agreed to changes to the Play Store.
Google charges commissions of 15 to 30 percent when selling apps in the Play Store. Prosecutors have accused the company of forcing consumers into a form of payment processing that drove up prices. The group did not allow an open market for payment processing. Google had already agreed to a settlement in September, but details have only now become known.
Epic Games Is One of The Plaintiffs
Google also promised to allow alternative payment options in the future instead of automatically directing customers into its system. The app providers should also be able to offer cheaper payment options themselves. In addition, it should be easier to obtain apps for the Android operating system from sources other than the Play Store.
The plaintiffs in the case included Epic Games, the developer behind the popular game “Fortnite,” but it rejected the September settlement and is continuing to pursue its lawsuit. Last week, a US federal court ruled that Google’s Play Store was protected by anti-competitive barriers. This could lead to even higher costs for Google. The federal judge responsible for this case, James Donato, approved the settlement that has now become known.