Google has agreed terms for a possible settlement of a class action over alleged overcharging for apps sold through its Play Store, according to reports overnight.
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Google’s owner, faced a lawsuit from more than 30 US states and 21 million consumers claiming apps sold on the platform would be cheaper were it not for Google’s commission and monopoly position for apps that use its Android operating system.
Lawyers representing the attorney general for Utah, which is the lead US state in the case, have asked for a trial scheduled for 6 November to be cancelled.
Google declined to comment on the proposed settlement, Reuters reported.
Other cases remain ongoing, including one brought by Fortnite developer Epic Games, with its chief executive Tim Sweeney saying it is not part of this proposed settlement.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sweeney said: "If Google is ending its payments monopoly without imposing a Google Tax on third-party transactions, we'll settle and be Google's friend in their new era."
If not, the company would fight on against the “Google Tax”, he said.