36 US states are suing Google for abuse of power in the Play Store

36 US states have filed a joint lawsuit against Google over possible abuse of power over the Play Store. The states believe that Google is abusing its power because of the rules it imposes on app makers and with the money they have to give to Google.

The charges were brought by the public prosecutors of 36 states and the District of Columbia, US media reported. The case is led by the states of Utah, North Carolina, New York and Tennessee and is filed in California. The states are responding with the case to concerns from app developers, who say that Google is charging too much commission for making in-app purchases. Due to the thirty percent commission on top of the transaction costs, the developers have to charge more money for their products, according to the indictment. Recently, Google lowered that commission for developers earning more than a million dollars.

The prosecutors also believe that Google is abusing its dominant position. The Play Store’s market share would be so large that Google would feel “no credible threat” and the free market could not pressure the free market to cut commissions.

Prosecutors say Google has “used anti-competitive ways to suppress competition in the distribution of Android apps.” According to them, the company has actively targeted competing app stores, and has ensured that developers have no reasonable alternative except to publish their apps on the Play Store.

Google reacts strongly to the charge, which, according to the company, misrepresents things in several ways. Google says that Android creates more competition because the operating system is open and other app stores are allowed. The company says many Android devices have multiple app stores, and users can sideload apps. Google also cites figures that show that developers earn a lot of money through the Play Store. Moreover, there would indeed be competition, according to Google, because, for example, Apple also has an app store.

Google calls the lawsuit “worthless.” “We understand the need for controls and are happy to assist with authorities,” the company says, “but this lawsuit isn’t about helping the little guy or protecting consumers. It’s about improving a handful of major developers. who want the benefits of Google Play without paying for it.”