Phi Finney McDonald, with Maurice Blackburn, acts for the Lead Applicants in a class action in the Federal Court of Australia against Google LLC, Google Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (Google Asia Pacific) and Google Payment Australia Pty. Ltd. (Google Australia) (together, Google) on behalf of App Developers who sold their apps and in-app content via the Google Play Store and Google payment solutions, as well as eligible users of Android smartphones and tablets who purchased Android apps distributed via the Google Play Store and/or in-app digital content in Android apps distributed via the Google Play Store, from 6 November 2017 to 20 June 2022 (Google Class Action).

The Google Class Action is funded by Vannin Capital.

Important Update

The Federal Court ordered Opt Out process has concluded.

The deadline to Opt Out of the Google Play Store Class Action was 4:00pm (AEDT) on 23 February 2024.

The First Stage Trial of the class action commenced on 18 March 2024 and will run for approximately 16 weeks.

Please visit the Google Play Store Class Action website. This website is a dedicated resource for the Google Play Store Class Action and contains important information, including:

  • Information about the current status of the proceeding
  • Ability to Register to receive updates about the Google Play Store Class Action
  • Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions after visiting the Google Play Store Class Action website you can contact us:

For app developers: developer@playstoreclassaction.com.au
For app consumers: consumer@playstoreclassaction.com.au

 

Background 

Google LLC owns and licenses software to manufacturers of smartphones and tablets, called Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). This software includes the Android operating system (Android OS). Google LLC also developed and owns the Australian Google Play Store and Google Play Billing, the payment solution used by Australian Android users when purchasing Android apps and in-app digital content from Android apps distributed through the Google Play Store.

Google Asia Pacific is the Google contracting entity in relation to Android apps distributed through the Google Play Store in Australia. Google Australia, a subsidiary of Google LLC, accepts and facilitates the processing of payments for Google Play Store app and in-app purchases in Australia, and charges a 30% commission to Android app developers for these purchases, or in some limited cases, 15%.

Alphabet Inc. is the ultimate holding company of all three entities, and is one of the largest companies in the world by market capitalization.

 

Allegations 

  1. Google had a substantial degree of power in the markets for the purchase of Android apps from the Australian Google Play Store (the Australian Android Mobile App Distribution Market), the market for the supply of licences for mobile operating systems (the Mobile OS Licensing Market), and the market for the supply of services to Android app developers for accepting and processing payments for the purchase of Android Apps and digital content within an Android App (the Australian Android In-App Payment Solutions Market).
  1. Google was able to impose terms on OEMs and Android app developers which restricted the ability of those developers to offer other means of Android app distribution, and payment for Android apps and in-app digital content from Android apps.
  1. As well, Google was able to charge commission rates on those Android app and in-app purchases over and above what it would otherwise have been able to charge in a competitive market.
  1. By the above conduct, Google, among other things:
    • gave effect to provisions in a contract which, by imposing restrictive terms on OEMs and Android app developers, prevented or hindered those developers from distributing Android apps other than through the Google Play Store and from using payment solutions other than those controlled by Google; and
    • supplied services to app developers for the distribution of Android apps on the condition that those developers not use payment solutions other than those controlled by Google for payments of Android app purchases via the Google Play Store and of in-app purchases from Android apps distributed via the Google Play Store.
  1. The above conduct had the purpose, effect or likely effect of substantially lessening competition in the following markets:
    • the Australian Android Mobile App Distribution Market; and/or
    • the Australian Android In-App Payment Solutions Market,

in contravention of ss. 45, 46 and 47 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth); and

  1. This conduct resulted in higher prices for users who purchased apps and in-app digital content through the Australian Google Play Store.
  1. The above conduct also was, in all the circumstances, unconscionable in contravention of s. 21 of the Australian Consumer Law.

The proceeding seeks compensation for eligible users from Google for the excess price charged to those users.

Eligible purchasers are automatically included as group members in the claim. App Developers who are interested in receiving further information about the class action are encouraged to contact