Google pauses enforcement of Play Retailer billing requirement in India following antitrust order

Google is indefinitely pausing the enforcement of its coverage requiring builders to make use of Play Retailer’s billing system for consumer transactions in India following an order by the nation’s antitrust physique.

The Android maker on Tuesday updated a assist web page to reveal the transfer and mentioned that the requirement to make use of Google Play’s billing system nonetheless applies for in-app purchases exterior of India.

Final week, the Competitors Fee of India (CCI) ordered Google to not limit app builders from utilizing third-party cost processing providers for in-app purchases and buying apps via the Play Retailer. The antitrust watchdog additionally fined the corporate $113 million for abusing the dominant place of its Play Retailer within the nation.

“Following the CCI’s current ruling, we’re pausing enforcement of the requirement for builders to make use of Google Play’s billing system for the acquisition of digital items and providers for transactions by customers in India,” the corporate mentioned, including that it’s reviewing its authorized choices within the nation, suggesting it might problem the competitors regulator’s choice.

Google had beforehand prolonged the deadline for following its Play Retailer billing requirement within the South Asian market till October 31.

The regulator introduced its choice after interviewing quite a lot of trade gamers and smartphone makers, together with Samsung, Xiaomi and Microsoft. It had additionally slapped another $162 million fine on Google for anti-competitive practices associated to Android.

A number of different international locations are also apprehensive of Google Play Retailer’s billing system, below which the corporate prices a fee to builders for processing funds. In response, Google is testing alternative payment systems for the Play Retailer in international locations together with India, South Korea, Australia and Japan.