Google faces £1bn UK trial over Play Store commissions as mass consumer case opens

Google was accused of abusing its dominance to levy excessive commissions on app developers as a mass consumer lawsuit worth more than £1 billion ($1.33 billion) began in London on Tuesday.

The case, brought on behalf of around 20 million consumers who bought apps through Google’s Play Store or paid for in-app purchases and subscriptions between 2015 and this July, is the latest brought in Britain against Big Tech.

Lawyers representing consumer advocate Liz Coll, who is leading the claim, say Google used its dominant position to charge commissions of up to 30% on Play Store purchases, arguing the excessive commissions were passed on by app developers to consumers. As an example, they cited Google passing on the commission it was charged when it sold YouTube Premium through Apple’s App Store.

Alphabet is fighting the lawsuit. A Google spokesperson said it ignored the degree of choice the Android platform gives consumers and that the company charges “some of the lowest fees in the market”. The tech giant’s lawyers argued the Play Store “faces strong competitive constraints both on the developer and consumer sides”, including from Apple’s App Store and other alternative platforms.

The seven-week trial at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal follows similar cases against Apple and Sony over their app and PlayStation stores, both citing commissions of up to 30%. The claim, brought with law firm Hausfeld, covers purchases made between October 1, 2015 and July 31, 2026.

The case arrives after years of scrutiny of Google’s app store practices. In March, Google and “Fortnite” maker Epic Games reached a worldwide settlement under which Google said it would expand billing options and cut developer fees. Last month, Google settled a separate lawsuit brought on behalf of app developers for £260 million, without any admission of liability or wrongdoing.