The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeals filed by ten Indian startups in the Google Play billing policy matter on March 19, according to reports. The startups had challenged the new billing policy last year but their complaints were dismissed by the Madras High Court in January, stating that the matter falls under the purview of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
While the court issued a notice to Google and listed the matter for hearing in March, it declined to provide interim relief to the startups. The startups had requested the court to direct Google to not remove their apps from the Play Store during the appeals process. With the court refusing this request, the startups have turned to Google, asking it to refrain from taking any action while the matter is being heard. However, if Google does not comply, the apps belonging to the complainants may either have to comply with the new billing policy or face removal from the Play Store.
In addition to the ongoing legal battle, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is also investigating Google Play’s billing policy. Last October, the competition regulator issued an antitrust order which led Google to introduce the new billing policy. However, developers later raised concerns about the policy’s compliance with the antitrust order, prompting the CCI to launch an investigation. The current status of this probe is unclear.
As the Supreme Court prepares to address the appeals, the future of Google Play’s billing policy remains uncertain. The court’s decision on March 19 will be closely watched by the startups and the larger Indian tech community, as it could have significant implications for the app ecosystem in the country.
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