01/11/24 | Court Grants Final Approval to $90M Settlement
On Jan. 11, 2024, U.S. District Judge James Donato granted final approval of a $90 million settlement in this class-action lawsuit against Google. The class consists of current and former Android app developers who sold apps or in-app purchases through the Google Play Store and paid Google a service fee greater than 15% between Aug. 17, 2016, and Dec 31, 2021. The settlement received no objections, and fewer than 10 plaintiffs opted out of the settlement. Additional information about the settlement, key dates and details concerning distribution of funds can be found on the settlement website: googleplaydevelopersettlement.com.
Our legal team is working with Android app developers to find out more about their experience selling their apps and digital products in Google's Play store, including with respect to Google's potentially restrictive practices and distribution fees.
Every day, app developers bring their hard work and creativity to Google's Play store with the hope of fairly monetizing their creation. But developers may face difficult challenges in using the Play store in a fair manner. We want to help ensure that Google is playing by the rules and giving Android app developers every chance to succeed, and not taking advantage of them.
YOUR RIGHTS
We believe that developers who work hard to design, build, and sell their own apps and in-app digital products in app stores should not be harmed by unfair or anti-competitive behavior from big tech companies. Our legal team is investigating your rights pertaining to the distribution of Android apps and in-app digital products through the Play store.
EXPERIENCED LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman is one of the most successful consumer litigation law firms in the U.S. and has achieved more than $320 billion in settlements in lawsuits against anti-competitive behavior at technology corporations, big banks, and other entities. Hagens Berman won a suit against Apple and various publishing companies in 2016 that settled for a total of $616 million on behalf of purchasers of e-books who had been forced to pay artificially high prices due to Apple and the publishing companies' price-fixing. Potential claims will be handled by lawyers experienced in this area of law.
NO COST TO YOU
There is no cost or fee whatsoever involved in joining this action. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the legal team for the class. In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum.
CASE TIMELINE
On June 30, 2022, attorneys for the class of roughly 43,000 Android app developers reached a $90 million settlement, submitted to the court for approval. Attorneys say some class members will likely see payments in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Notice to class members will be mailed only after the settlement has been preliminarily approved by the court.
In addition to monetary relief, major changes will come to the Google Play Store under the settlement, which attorneys said will aid app developers in future sales and level the playing field. Google will allow developers to pay a reduced 15% service fee on their first $1 million in annual revenues until at least May 25, 2025, among other benefits. more »
On Dec. 1, 2022, U.S. District Judge James Donato preliminarily approved a $90 million settlement on behalf of Android developers. Additional information about the settlement and final stages of the case will be available here as it becomes available: googleplaydevelopersettlement.com.
U.S. District Court Judge James Donato named Hagens Berman co-lead counsel for the proposed class of Android developers in the lawsuit against Google. In his order, Judge Donato stated, the firm and its fellow appointees “have the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to effectively represent the putative class” and highlighted the case’s “complex substantive and procedural issues.”
