SEATTLE — Washington state residents will receive part of a $700 million lawsuit against Google over its Play Store, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Tuesday.
The lawsuit, which was filed in July 2021 by 37 states, accused Google of using anticompetitive practices on its app store, forcing Android developers to raise app prices for users to pay the tech giant's “exorbitant fees” the AG’s office said.
The lawsuit argued Google forced out its competition by:
- Preventing apps that aren’t offered on Play Store from advertising on its platforms
- Imposing restrictions that deterred users from directly downloading apps
- Paying off device manufacturers and mobile network operators to not make their app stores
- Making its app store impossible to delete
- Mandating all apps to use Google Play billing to force users to “unknowingly” pay a 30% commission
As a result of the lawsuit, Google will have to pay a total of $700 million to the states. $630 million is set aside for consumer reimbursements.
About $10.6 million is estimated to be distributed to Washingtonians. Eligible residents will receive at least $2, with additional money in proportion to their Google Play spending from Aug. 16, 2016, through Sept. 30.
Washingtonians do not have to submit a claim and payments will automatically be made directly to PayPal or Venmo accounts associated with their Play Store accounts.
According to the AG’s office, an estimated 2.9 million Washingtonians use a phone that runs on Google’s operating system.
“When companies illegally act like monopolies, everyone loses out on the benefits of healthy competition,” Ferguson said. “People face higher prices and fewer choices. Smaller businesses are forced out of the market — or have no way into it in the first place. This resolution stops Google from rigging the system and creates a more level playing field.”
In addition to the $700 million payout, Google is required to make several corporate reforms and changes to how it operates its Play Store.
Two other antitrust lawsuits against Google brought by Ferguson are over the tech giant’s online display advertising and search and search advertising markets.
