Google 700M Dollars Antitrust: Google Settles Antitrust Case Alphabet’s Google has reached a $700 million settlement in an antitrust case with U.S. states and consumers. The settlement includes a $630 million fund for consumers and a $70 million fund for states, pending final approval from a judge. The settlement addresses allegations that Google overcharged consumers due to unlawful restrictions on app distribution and unnecessary fees for in-app transactions on Android devices.
While Google did not admit wrongdoing, the settlement aims to provide relief to consumers between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands participated in the settlement.
The antitrust case came amid accusations of anticompetitive practices in Google’s app business. A California federal jury recently sided with “Fortnite” maker Epic Games, affirming that certain aspects of Google’s app business were anticompetitive.
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Google’s payment of $700 million and the commitment to greater competition in its Play app store mark a significant settlement in the antitrust case. The company stated that it would offer consumers the option of alternative billing for in-app purchases alongside Play’s billing system.
While the settlement resolves the case with the states, Epic Games plans to continue pressing for changes in the Android ecosystem in the next phase of its trial. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney suggested that the states could have secured a larger damages amount by extending the legal battle. Google still faces legal challenges related to its search and digital advertising practices, maintaining its denial of any wrongdoing in those cases.