Goggle Re-Listed Indian Firms’ Apps on its Play Store, Conditions Apply
On Tuesday, after a meeting with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the company stated that Google temporarily restores Indian firms’ apps on the Play Store along with the billing system. The impacted startups were also present in the meeting.
“We have spoken to both Google as well as the startup community. Google has agreed to re-list the apps with the same status as on Friday, 1st March 2024. Google and India’s startup community will engage with each other to find a long-term solution to all issues in consonance with India’s legal framework…” Vaishnaw said in his statement.
“We believe that Google and the startup community will be able to come to a long-term solution in the coming months,” he added.
Also, read – Google apologizes to India over Gemini’s results on Modi
After the meeting with the IT minister, Google passed a statement “…we are temporarily reinstating the apps of the developers with appeals pending in the Supreme Court. Google maintains its right to implement and enforce its business model, as established in various courts. We will invoice our full applicable services fees in the interim…”
Google is offering three in-app purchase systems for the developers in which they offer different billing systems for the app developers. The first one is the consumption-only model in which the developers do not have to pay any kind of service fee.
The second one is the Google Play billing system. The company is charging a long-standing fee of around 15-30% to the developers. Also, it is offering an alternative billing system. Google temporarily restores Indian firms’ apps like Shaadi, Matrimony.com, and BharatMatrimony. These were removed from the Google Play Store earlier.
Developers Reaction:
The Co-Founder & CEO at Kuku FM has posted on X(formerly Twitter)-” This is so unfair. Google is using a divide-and-rule strategy here. They are talking to some companies to settle for less Google tax. They have already done a secret deal with Spotify where Spotify is not paying any Google tax. Many big companies still do not comply with Google tax guidelines but have not been delisted.”
Additionally, Anupam Mittal the founder of Shaadi.com, has also said the companies are spending a big part of their income on the Google fee structure. He said-” The core issue stems from Apple & Google’s attempts to move the open Internet to a closed app ecosystem where they can lord over the Internet economy. They have already succeeded in muscling large swathes of the Internet and now want 100% dominance.”
Also read – Google’s Morale Crisis
“Current issue – Google wants to charge anywhere between 11-30% to app developers if they have a premium service – Developers will file a tax return with Google every month so that they can audit & charge 😡”- he added. The firms are now asking the CCI to take action against Google. However, Google is saying that the firm is providing multiple options for the developers. “While we always try to work with developers to help them through our policies and find feasible solutions, allowing this small group of developers to get differential treatment from the vast majority of developers who are paying their fair share creates an uneven playing field across the ecosystem and puts all other apps and games at a competitive disadvantage,” said Google.
