(function(i,m,p,a,c,t){c.ire_o=p;c[p]=c[p]||function(){(c[p].a=c[p].a||[]).push(arguments)};t=a.createElement(m);var z=a.getElementsByTagName(m)[0];t.async=1;t.src=i;z.parentNode.insertBefore(t,z)})('https://utt.impactcdn.com/P-A3635466-f556-4c54-83d0-b674789a87881.js','script','impactStat',document,window);impactStat('transformLinks');impactStat('trackImpression'); google-site-verification=PGyGSKHgZazbuBqDLGWGtaoMVGselXzPs5VT-boZN2M google-site-verification=c5jmbe3Z58CqGDU8xGRhtEEbLr7QlySbG_IoVolrBbg This is a Brave Creators publisher verification file. Domain: thestevenwickblog.com Token: 0ace886aa2a016ff48af7f6dc6dd4be9142d4ed31973cd108bc7c6f746a51640 # SOVRN lijit.com, 400418, DIRECT, fafdf38b16bf6b2b #SOVRN lijit.com, 400418-eb, DIRECT, fafdf38b16bf6b2b #SOVRN openx.com, 538959099, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6 pubmatic.com, 137711, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace pubmatic.com, 156212, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace rubiconproject.com, 17960, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 appnexus.com, 1019, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1 video.unrulymedia.com, 12444764291, RESELLER contextweb.com, 558511, RESELLER google-site-verification: google6216a4a2a6fb69f0.html ... ...
top of page
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
Writer's pictureStephen Wick

Justice Wins: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown Announces $700 Million Settlement with Google over Play Store Misconduct


Under this agreement, Google will be required to pay $630 million in restitution to consumers who have made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and have been negatively affected by Google's anticompetitive practices. This amount is subject to deduction for costs and fees.




On December 19, 2023, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, along with a bipartisan group of 52 other Attorneys General, made an announcement regarding a $700 million agreement with Google in relation to their lawsuit concerning Google's anticompetitive behavior within the Google Play Store.


“Consumers are harmed when they are unable to make choices based on what is available in the marketplace,” said Attorney General Brown. “Limiting options and the distribution of third party apps not only leads to fewer choices for consumers, but also higher prices and less innovation in the marketplace.”


Under this agreement, Google will be required to pay $630 million in restitution to consumers who have made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and have been negatively affected by Google's anticompetitive practices. This amount is subject to deduction for costs and fees. Additionally, Google will pay the states an additional $70 million in penalties, restitution, disgorgement, and fees. As part of the agreement, Google will also be obligated to adopt more procompetitive business practices in various significant ways.


Individuals who are eligible for restitution will not be required to submit claims as they will automatically receive payments through PayPal or Venmo. Alternatively, they may choose to receive a check or ACH transfer. Further details regarding this process will be provided in due course.


In 2021, a coalition of states, including Maryland, filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company had unlawfully monopolized the market for Android app distribution and in-app payment processing. The states specifically claimed that Google had entered into anticompetitive contracts to prevent other app stores from being preloaded onto Android devices, paid influential developers to discourage them from launching their own rival app stores, and implemented technological barriers to dissuade consumers from directly downloading apps onto their devices.

The states reached a settlement in principle on September 5, 2023, and have now released the finalized terms of the agreement. The settlement agreement mandates that Google must implement changes to its business practices in the following manners:


1. Grant all developers the option to enable users to make payments for their digital content through in-app billing systems other than Google Play Billing for a minimum of five years.


2. Allow developers to offer discounted prices for their apps and in-app products to consumers who utilize alternative, non-Google billing systems for at least five years.


3. Enable developers to direct consumers towards alternative, non-Google billing systems by promoting lower prices within their respective apps for a period of five years.


4. Prohibit the establishment of contracts that make it mandatory for the Play Store to be the exclusive, pre-loaded app store on a device or home screen for a minimum of five years.


5. Permit the installation of third-party apps on Android phones from sources outside the Google Play Store for a duration of seven years.


6. Modify and decrease the warnings displayed on an Android device when a user attempts to download a third-party app from outside the Google Play Store for a minimum of five years.


7. Sustain Android system support for third-party app stores, including the facilitation of automatic updates, for a period of four years.


8. Eliminate the requirement for developers to release their app catalogs on the Play Store simultaneously with other app stores for at least four years.


9. Provide compliance reports to an independent monitor to ensure that Google continues to engage in procompetitive behavior for a minimum of five years.


Throughout much of this legal case, the Attorneys General collaborated with major app developers, Epic Games and Match. While Match reached a separate settlement earlier this year, Epic Games proceeded to trial. The trial concluded with a unanimous jury verdict that determined Google's anticompetitive actions had violated federal antitrust laws in the previous week.


In addition to Attorney General Brown, this lawsuit was supported by the Attorneys General of all states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME


DISCLAIMER


The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Steven Wick Blog. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

If you decide to purchase any item using our authorized referral/affiliate links, be aware, we may receive a portion of the sales as commission, i.e. if you purchase a product/service.


To shop, select or click buttons, links or images, you will be redirected to product pages. Please, carefully research before you purchase. Feel free to share and leave a comment, we would love to hear from you. Your feedback is very important to us.


For more like this, music, literature, news, fashion, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Steven Wick News Letter.


We here at the Steven Wick Blog are so proud of our work, we’d like to thank you for being a part of our community. However, our mission to share so much from music, literature, lifestyle to fashion is a 24/7 undertaking! We need your help to continue our work. Your financial donation will help us not only keep the lights on, but enable us run many more stories in the future to come. DONATE HERE



Message Of Gratitude


We deeply appreciate your contribution in making our blog the top brand among customers.


Without you as our readers, we wouldn't have achieved this level of success. Your satisfaction is our utmost priority, and we assure you that we will always be a reliable source for your entertainment needs.


Your trust in us is invaluable, and we are grateful for your generous donations as our readers.


A number of you took an extra effort and opted to contribute as monthly donors. By doing so, your generous contribution is multiplied by twelve throughout the year, thereby amplifying the impact you have on our work. Your dedication truly makes a significant change, and we sincerely appreciate your valuable support.


Your support has been instrumental in our brand's success.


Thank you for being with us throughout the past year.

As we continue to grow and enhance our business, we pledge to prioritize your needs and interests.


Best Regards

The Steven Wick Team



Comments


Join the Club

Join our email list and get access to specials deals exclusive to our subscribers.

Thanks for submitting!

bottom of page