Google is relaxing its Google Play Store terms, particularly for European Economic Area (EEA) developers, in a bid to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The EU had previously informed Google that its Play Store terms were not in compliance with the new law due to restrictions on developers.
Google would now allow developers to direct users to external offers, reducing fees for certain developers, and offering more flexibility in how they present their apps and subscriptions.
What Has Changed?
Developers can now link users from their Play Store apps to their websites for purchases, in-app items, or subscriptions, rather than being limited to the Play Store’s payment system.
A two-tiered fee structure is being implemented, which gives developers the choice to opt out of some Play Store services and pay a smaller commission to Google.
These changes provide more freedom and potentially lower costs for developers in the EEA, while also offering users more choice and lower prices for digital goods and services.
Google Antitrust Issues
Google has been under antitrust scrutiny in Europe following a formal complaint filed with the European Commission by a coalition of independent publishers who claim Google’s AI-generated summaries that appear above traditional search results deprive them of traffic, readers, and revenue.
These changes, being implemented by Alphabet-owned Google, are therefore a part of initiatives to make the company compliant with European Commission laws.