In a recent development, Google India assured the Madras High Court on Friday that it would refrain from removing or delisting the mobile applications of Matrimony.com and 13 other digital companies from its Play Store until August 18. These companies had raised objections to Google's new billing system for its Play Store on Android devices and had filed appeals against a single-judge ruling that denied them interim relief.
During proceedings before a Bench comprising Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and PD Audikesavalu, Google India's legal representative, Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya, confirmed the company's commitment to maintain the status quo until the upcoming hearing on August 18. The Court had directed Google to submit a response explaining why interim relief should not be granted to the appellant companies until the said date.
Representing the appellant companies, Senior Advocate and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram presented their case before the Court. The development followed a prior ruling by Justice S Sounthar of the Madras High Court on August 8, which had dismissed the petitions of 14 startup firms, including Matrimony.com, Alt digital media, and Verve mobile, contesting Google's new user choice billing system.
Justice Sounthar's verdict highlighted that the jurisdiction to address this matter falls within the purview of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The judge emphasized that the remedies available under the Competition Act surpass those offered in a civil court.
Previously, Google mandated all app developers to utilize its Google Play Billing System (GPBS) for transactions, entailing commissions ranging from 15 to 30 percent for various services, including paid app downloads and in-app purchases. The revised billing system introduced by Google provides users with the option to choose an "alternative billing" method alongside GPBS. While this grants app developers the freedom to use third-party billing systems, it does levy a service fee ranging from 11 to 26 percent.
Matrimony.com and other app developers have contested this service fee, presenting their arguments before the High Court. The legal proceedings continue as stakeholders navigate the implications of Google's evolving billing system.
TAGS: Google India Madras High Court Matrimony.com mobile apps Play Store delist new billing system Android devices appeals interim relief Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala PD Audikesavalu Google's response hearing legal representation Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya P Chidambaram single-judge ruling startup companies objections user choice billing system jurisdiction Competition Commission of India Competition Act civil court app developers Google Play Billing System GPBS commissions in-app purchases service fee third-party billing systems alternative billing stakeholder evolving billing system.
