Google defends Play Store commissions in £1bn UK class action
Google is defending its Play Store commission structure in a £1bn ($1.33bn) UK class action lawsuit that began on October 6 at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal. The case represents approximately 20 million consumers who made purchases on the Play Store between 2015 and July 2026, including app downloads, in-app purchases, and subscription services.
Consumer advocate Liz Coll, representing the claimants, argues that Google abused its dominant market position by charging commissions up to 30% on the platform. The legal team contends that developers passed these fees directly to consumers, citing YouTube Premium as a precedent—where Google themselves paid Apple’s equivalent commission and absorbed the cost rather than raising prices for users.
Google and parent company Alphabet are contesting the allegations. The case raises significant questions about fair competition practices in mobile app distribution and whether platform holders should be permitted to charge such substantial commissions. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for how major app stores price their services and structure developer relationships across the industry.