NEW DELHI: Google started reinstating some of the Indian apps that it had de-listed from its Play Store over payment issues after intervention by Union communications & IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw who said that “this cannot be permitted” as he asked the disputing parties to come and meet the govt on the matter.
As some of the top start-up founders came out strongly against Google’s move to de-list the apps from Play Store, the govt swung into action with Vaishnaw expressing concern over the issue. “India is very clear, our policy is very clear… our startups will get the protection that they need.”
The minister said the government will be meeting Google and app developers who have been delisted, next week, to resolve the dispute. “I have already called Google… I have already called the app developers who have been delisted, we will be meeting them next week. This cannot be permitted… This kind of delisting cannot be permitted,” Vaishnaw said as reports soon started coming in of some of the apps being allowed again.
Sources say that some of the companies are mulling legal action and may approach fairplay regulator CCI with charges of abuse of dominance against Google, something where the tech giant has already been penalised last year.
After the minister’s comments went public, reports emerged that apps like Info Edge’s Naukri, 99acres and Shiksha, as well as shaadi.com, had been reinstated by Google in the Play Store.
However, a new controversy seems to have come up as Anupam Mittal, the founder of People Group that runs ‘shaadi.com’ said that Google had allowed re-listing on Play Store but without permitting the in-app billing, which was the source of the dispute. Responding to a tweet of Info Edge’s Sanjeev Bhikchandani that their apps had been allowed back, Mittal said on microblogging platform X, “Pls clarify that u are back up as consumption apps only i.e. without any in-app billing which will destroy the consumer side of the business in the longer-term. Otherwise this tweet will be interpreted as everything is back to status quo, which is NOT true (sic).”
On March 1, Google said that ten companies, including “many well-established” ones had avoided paying fees despite benefiting from the platform & Play Store, and proceeded to delist some apps. It didn’t name firms but a search of Play Store did not give results for apps such as Shaadi, Matrimony.com and Bharat Matrimony. Balaji Telefilms’ Altt, audio platform Kuku FM, dating service Quack Quack disappeared from Play Store.
The dispute of the tech giant with the companies is over Google imposing a fee of 11-26% on in-app payments after CCI ordered scrapping of an earlier system of charging 15-30%.
As some of the top start-up founders came out strongly against Google’s move to de-list the apps from Play Store, the govt swung into action with Vaishnaw expressing concern over the issue. “India is very clear, our policy is very clear… our startups will get the protection that they need.”
The minister said the government will be meeting Google and app developers who have been delisted, next week, to resolve the dispute. “I have already called Google… I have already called the app developers who have been delisted, we will be meeting them next week. This cannot be permitted… This kind of delisting cannot be permitted,” Vaishnaw said as reports soon started coming in of some of the apps being allowed again.
Sources say that some of the companies are mulling legal action and may approach fairplay regulator CCI with charges of abuse of dominance against Google, something where the tech giant has already been penalised last year.
After the minister’s comments went public, reports emerged that apps like Info Edge’s Naukri, 99acres and Shiksha, as well as shaadi.com, had been reinstated by Google in the Play Store.
However, a new controversy seems to have come up as Anupam Mittal, the founder of People Group that runs ‘shaadi.com’ said that Google had allowed re-listing on Play Store but without permitting the in-app billing, which was the source of the dispute. Responding to a tweet of Info Edge’s Sanjeev Bhikchandani that their apps had been allowed back, Mittal said on microblogging platform X, “Pls clarify that u are back up as consumption apps only i.e. without any in-app billing which will destroy the consumer side of the business in the longer-term. Otherwise this tweet will be interpreted as everything is back to status quo, which is NOT true (sic).”
On March 1, Google said that ten companies, including “many well-established” ones had avoided paying fees despite benefiting from the platform & Play Store, and proceeded to delist some apps. It didn’t name firms but a search of Play Store did not give results for apps such as Shaadi, Matrimony.com and Bharat Matrimony. Balaji Telefilms’ Altt, audio platform Kuku FM, dating service Quack Quack disappeared from Play Store.
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