A federal court has granted final approval to a $700 million settlement resolving a multistate antitrust lawsuit that accused Google of maintaining an illegal monopoly over how it ran the Play Store.
The lawsuit went after the tech giant’s grip on Android app distribution and in-app payments, where the company was taking up to 30% per transaction.
As part of the national resolution, Washington secured $13 million, which will provide refunds to roughly 2.4 million consumers in the state, most of whom bought something through Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023, according to Attorney General Nick Brown.
For the majority of eligible users, payments will arrive through PayPal or Venmo, while those without said services can file a claim separately.
In a statement regarding the settlement, Brown said, “When giant companies gain an illegal stranglehold on a market, we take action and deliver relief for consumers. Fighting monopolies is one of our office’s core responsibilities, and I’m proud that millions of Washingtonians will now get refunds because of our litigation.”
While the refunds would ensure immediate relief, they are only the smaller half of what this lawsuit entails, as it has now forced Google to change how the Play Store operates.
For at least five years, the company must permit developers to use third-party payment systems, disclose lower prices available outside Google’s billing to customers, and list their apps on rival stores without Google retaliating.
Furthermore, the agreement secures the right for Android users to download apps from outside the Play Store for at least seven years. Those affected can look up additional details on eligibility and filing at googleplaystateagantitrustlitigation.com.
Sources: Washington State (ATG), Google Play (Litigation Website), KREM