Google Play $700 Million Settlement
Google has agreed to pay a total of $700 million over claims that consumers paid too much for apps and for purchases made in apps downloaded from the Google Play Store because Google monopolized app distribution on certain Android devices and in-app billing services. This Action is brought by State Attorneys General as “parens patriae” for consumers in 53 states, districts, and territories against Google. The settlement is only promising a minimum payment of $2 but it could be more. Check out all the details below.
Who’s Eligible for this Settlement?
You are eligible to receive a payment from the Settlement Fund if you made a Qualifying Purchase and, at the time of purchase, the “Legal Address” listed in your Google payments profile was located in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands. If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can get help by calling 1-866-905-8127 or emailing info@GooglePlayStateAGAntitrustLitigation.com.
Related: See All Settlement Rebates Here
Settlement Payout
Google settled the parens patriae claims for a total of $700 million. After payment of any court-authorized expenses and attorneys’ fees, the balance of the settlement fund will be distributed to consumers who made qualifying purchases. Private lawyers who materially contributed to the litigation have applied to the court for an award of $85 million in attorneys’ fees and $8.6 million in expenses from the Settlement Fund. Their application is available on the court’s docket and on the Notice Administrator’s website.
Google has also agreed to pay $70 million to the State Attorneys General in their sovereign capacities. This resolves claims brought by the states only, and not on behalf of consumers. That money will be distributed to the states, districts, and territories themselves, to be used according to their own laws.
You will receive at least $2.00. You may receive more, based on how much you paid for apps through the Google Play Store or for in-app content (including purchases in gaming apps, subscriptions, and ad-free versions of apps) through Google Play Billing between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023, compared to the amount paid by all other consumers who made Qualifying Purchases.
Getting Payment
If you made a Qualifying Purchase and, at the time of purchase, the “Legal Address” listed in your Google payments profile was located in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands, then you are entitled to receive a payment from the Settlement Fund.
The Settlement Fund will make the majority of payments automatically, and no claim form is necessary in most cases . Once the Settlement has been approved by the Court, you will receive an email from PayPal or a text from Venmo notifying you of your incoming payment at the email address or mobile phone number associated with your Google Play account. If that email address or phone number is also associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then the payment will be made directly to that account. If that email address or phone number does not match an email address or phone number associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then you have the option to create a new account or redirect the payment to a PayPal or Venmo account at another email address or phone number.
There will be a supplemental claims process after the automatic payments process is complete. Completing the supplemental claims process is only required if:
- Your email address or mobile phone number associated with your Google Play account is not associated with an existing PayPal or Venmo account, and you do not want to create a new PayPal or Venmo account or redirect the payment to a PayPal or Venmo account at another email address or phone number,
- You no longer have access to the email address or mobile phone number associated with your Google Play account, or
- You were expecting to receive a payment but did not.
