Britain’s June investigation raised concerns that Google’s complete control over in-app payments unfairly restricted app developers, forcing them to use Google Play’s billing system, reducing competition and hurting users.
The CMA said the new proposals allow app developers to offer a different payment system “of their choosing” or give users a choice between an alternative payment system and Google Play’s billing system.
Third party payments providers could market their services to app developers, as per the proposal.
“We need to make sure these commitments will work in practice – so we welcome all feedback, which we will carefully consider before making a final decision,” said Ann Pope, senior director of antitrust at the CMA.
India ruling
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The Delhi High Court on Tuesday did not grant any immediate relief to the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) in its suit seeking to stop Google from rolling out its new policy for in-app purchases.The court granted time to the parties to make additional submissions till 5 pm on Tuesday and listed the matter for further hearing on Wednesday. Google’s new policy is scheduled to take effect on April 26.
The ADIF represents Indian startups such as MapmyIndia, Paytm, Matrimony and TrulyMadly. In its petition against Google and the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the industry body alleged that the antitrust regulator’s “inaction” on complaints filed against Google’s user choice billing (UCB) system resulted in the tech company engaging in anti-competitive conduct.
Arguing the case before Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, ADIF counsel Abir Roy said the association was either seeking that the court ask the CCI to adjudicate on the matter prior to April 26 or keep Google’s new policy’s implementation in abeyance till the antitrust body was able to muster a quorum to decide on the complaint.
The inaction alleged by ADIF is because of a lack of quorum at the CCI.
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