Hagens Berman represented a class of then-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 August 2016 and December 2021. In January 2024, the court granted final approval of a $90 million settlement.
WHAT WAS THE LAWSUIT ABOUT?
Our legal team worked closely with Android app developers to understand their experience selling apps and digital products through Google Play. Every day, app developers bring their hard work and creativity to Googles Play with the hope of fairly monetizing their creation. But developers faced difficult challenges in using the Play store in a fair manner. Attorneys at Hagens Berman helped Android app developers achieve reimbursement for the challenges they faced due to Google’s alleged behaviors.
CASE TIMELINE
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 then-current and former Android app developers who sold apps or in-app purchases through Google Play 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. .
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.”
