Google won’t implement Play Store billing policy until Oct. 31

In a major setback to global technology major Google, the Karnataka High Court has disposed of a petition filed by Google India challenging an order of the Competition Commission of India, which is investigating its Play Store payment policy.

The US-based technology major had earlier requested the antitrust regulator to help it access the identities of app developers and startups that claimed they would suffer as a result of its policy. The CCI rejected the request, after which Google India moved to the high court.

Karnataka High Court Justice Krishna S Dixit took on record the joint memo filed by Google India, the CCI, and the Alliance of Digital India Foundation, under which Google would cooperate with the CCI investigation and not implement its Play Store billing policy until Oct 31. The three parties, however, have retained liberty to approach courts if required.

The CCI had earlier told the court that it would complete the investigation in two months. Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman appeared for the antitrust regulator, while senior advocate Sajan Poovayya appeared for Google India.

Google had opposed interim relief sought by the ADIF against its Play Store billing policy, arguing that it had already pushed the date for app developers to integrate with its billing system to Oct 31. Tech Observer