Google Agrees To Pay 'USD 700 Million' to US Consumers and States in Settlement Over Play Store Dispute Reached in September

New Delhi, December 19: Google has agreed to pay $700 million to the US consumers and states in a settlement over Play Store reached in September. The company will pay $630 million to consumers and $70 to a fund used by states. "Google will pay $630 million into a settlement fund to be distributed for the benefit of consumers according to a Court-approved plan and $70 million into a fund that will be used by the states," the tech giant said in a blogpost on Monday.

In September, a class action lawsuit was filed against Google by US states and consumers. The lawsuit alleged that Google has a monopoly over app distribution on Android through its Play Store. Google Play Store New Update: Google Adds New Option in Play Store To Let Users Uninstall Apps From Their Android Devices Remotely.

"This settlement builds on Android's choice and flexibility, maintains strong security protections, and retains Google’s ability to compete with other OS makers, and invest in the Android ecosystem for users and developers. We're pleased to resolve our case with the states and move forward on a settlement," Google said. Apple To Stop Selling Its 'Apple Watch Series 9' and 'Apple Watch Series Ultra 2' Smartphones in US From December 21 Over Patent Dispute.

This comes after Fortnite maker Epic Games won its antitrust battle with Google in a landmark case that went on for three years. The unanimous verdict by a US jury wraps up the legal battle between the tech companies. The jury found that Google turned its Play Store and Google Play Billing service into an illegal monopoly, reports The Verge. Epic filed its lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging that Google Play Store practices violated US antitrust laws.