Google has put its foot down in India, its largest market by user base, threatening to pull apps from the Play Store unless developers adhere to its billing policies. This decision targets 10 firms, including some big names, accused of dodging fees while benefiting from Google’s platform.
What Happened: Despite having over three years to comply, these developers have paid the policies of other app stores heed but not Google’s, leading to a significant crackdown starting this Friday.
Google’s move underscores its commitment to applying policies uniformly across its ecosystem, emphasizing that non-compliant apps risk removal.
This stance comes after more than a dozen Indian companies contested Google’s Play Store billing policy, deeming its fees excessively high. Notable challengers include Bharat Matrimony, Shadi.com, and Disney's Hotstar, among others.
See also: Netflix To Swing For The Fences In India With Cricket-Centric Content Slate
Sanjeev Bikhchandani of Info Edge, one of the companies served a notice by Google, asserts his firm has been compliant with Google’s rules post a Supreme Court order.
Despite the controversy, Google highlights the Android and Play Store ecosystem’s role in supporting 2.5 million jobs in India in 2022, with only 3% of developers required to pay a service fee. Following a rejection of petitions against Google’s billing system by the Madras High Court, Google maintains its right to charge for its services, urging non-compliant developers to either align with its policies or explore alternative app stores.
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