On March 5, Google announced its decision to temporarily reinstate apps developed by Indian internet companies that were recently removed from the Play Store. This move provides relief to local firms by allowing their apps to return to the platform with the option of in-app billing for consumers.
During this interim period, Google will continue to charge its standard service fees, but it has extended payment deadlines for affected companies as they collaborate to address the payment dispute. The company typically charges a 15-30 percent fee for in-app purchases and subscriptions, with a commission ranging from 11-26 percent for developers using third-party billing options—a reduction of 4 percent on the service fee.
Google’s decision follows a series of discussions between the tech giant, India’s IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and the affected companies over the past few days.
“In the spirit of cooperation, we are temporarily reinstating the apps of the developers with appeals pending in the Supreme Court. Google maintains its right to implement and enforce its business model, as established in various courts,” a Google spokesperson said.
Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw announced earlier today that Google has agreed to restore delisted Indian apps on its Play Store and will collaborate on finding a solution to the contentious payment issue. This comes after a series of meetings between the minister, the tech giant, and digital companies.