Attorney General Jason Miyares and a bipartisan group of 52 other attorneys general have reached a $700 million settlement with Google in their lawsuit regarding the tech giant's anticompetitive conduct with the Google Play Store. The settlement aims to address Google's manipulation of the free market and provide relief to affected developers and consumers.
"Ensuring big corporations are playing fair and not manipulating the free market is one of my priorities as Attorney General. Google took advantage of developers and consumers by monopolizing this niche market, breaking the law and putting corporate greed first," said Attorney General Miyares. "Today's settlement provides relief for those affected, corrects their anticompetitive practices, and holds Google accountable."
Under the terms of the settlement, Google will pay $630 million in restitution to consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google's anticompetitive practices. Additionally, Google will pay the states an additional $70 million for their sovereign claims. Eligible individuals will receive automatic payments through PayPal or Venmo, or they can choose to receive a check or ACH transfer.
The agreement also requires Google to make their business practices more procompetitive in several important ways. The attorneys general alleged that Google unlawfully monopolized the market for Android app distribution and in-app payment processing. They claimed that Google signed anticompetitive contracts, bought off key app developers, and created technological barriers to deter consumers from directly downloading apps to their devices.
The settlement is a result of collaboration between the attorneys general, Epic Games, and Match, two major app developers who also took action against Google. Match announced a separate settlement earlier this year, while Epic Games pursued a trial. Last week, a jury unanimously found that Google's anticompetitive conduct violated federal antitrust laws.
The finalized terms of the settlement require Google to reform its business practices. The attorneys general, along with Epic Games and Match, have successfully addressed the issue of Google's monopolistic behavior in the Google Play Store.
This settlement marks an important step towards promoting fair competition in the app market and holding tech giants accountable for their actions. It serves as a reminder that even the most powerful corporations must adhere to the principles of a fair and open market.
For media inquiries, please contact Attorney General Miyares' office at (804) 588-2021 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2659-december-19-2023-attorney-general-miyares-announces-700-million-settlement-with-google-over-play-store-misconduct