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Google agrees to pay $700 mn in Play Store dispute settlement

In September, a class action lawsuit was filed against Google by US states and consumers. The lawsuit alleged that Google has a monopoly over app distribution on Android through its Play Store…reports Asian Lite News

Google has agreed to pay $700 million to the US consumers and states in a settlement over Play Store reached in September.

The company will pay $630 million to consumers and $70 to a fund used by states.

“Google will pay $630 million into a settlement fund to be distributed for the benefit of consumers according to a Court-approved plan and $70 million into a fund that will be used by the states,” the tech giant said in a blogpost on Monday.

In September, a class action lawsuit was filed against Google by US states and consumers. The lawsuit alleged that Google has a monopoly over app distribution on Android through its Play Store.

“This settlement builds on Android’s choice and flexibility, maintains strong security protections, and retains Google’s ability to compete with other OS makers, and invest in the Android ecosystem for users and developers. We’re pleased to resolve our case with the states and move forward on a settlement,” Google said.

This comes after Fortnite maker Epic Games won its antitrust battle with Google in a landmark case that went on for three years.

The unanimous verdict by a US jury wraps up the legal battle between the tech companies. The jury found that Google turned its Play Store and Google Play Billing service into an illegal monopoly, reports The Verge.

Epic filed its lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging that Google Play Store practices violated US antitrust laws.

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Google suspends Play Store subscriptions in Russia

In the official statement from Google, the company stated that due to payment system disruptions, Google Play has paused its billing system for users in Russia as of March 10, 2022….reports Asian Lite News

Tech giant Google has reportedly suspended Play Store purchases and subscriptions for Android users in Russia.

In late February, Google had earlier announced that it will be cutting down on advertisements and media from the Russian Federation as a response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine, reports GizmoChina.

However, this week, the company has taken further action on the ongoing situation as the company has paused the Google Play Store’s billing system for Android users in Russia.

In the official statement from Google, the company stated that due to payment system disruptions, Google Play has paused its billing system for users in Russia as of March 10, 2022.

Google clarified that this means users cannot purchase apps and games, make subscription payments or conduct any in-app purchases of digital goods via the Google Play Store in Russia.

Free apps will remain available on the Play Store to download and install.

As for existing user subscriptions via the Google Play Store, Google informed that subscriptions will unfortunately not be able to be renewed and will be cancelled.

However, the existing subscription (i.e. the 1-month or 1-year subscription that the Russian Android user had purchased before this announcement) will continue until the end of the then-current billing period.

The company also clarified that it will still honour existing developer subscription billing grace periods and any free trials will continue to work until payments are attempted.

On a closing note, Google also stated that the situation is rapidly evolving and that the company encourages users to follow Google for Google’s latest update on the matter if there are changes of action.

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