Google Faces £1 Billion UK Lawsuit Over Play Store Commissions

Google is defending its app distribution model in a London courtroom as a collective lawsuit worth over £1 billion (US$1.33 billion) enters trial. The case, brought by consumer policy expert Liz Coll on behalf of approximately 20 million UK consumers, alleges that Google abused its dominant position in mobile app distribution by charging commissions of up to 30% on purchases through the Google Play Store. The lawsuit argues that developers passed these costs on to users, resulting in higher prices for apps, subscriptions, and in-app purchases.

The claim covers transactions made between October 2015 and July 2026 and focuses on how Google's fees increased the cost of distributing digital products. For example, a £10 in-game purchase could see £3 retained by Google under a 30% commission, leaving £7 for the developer. The lawsuit also highlights cases where Google passed on commissions charged by competing platforms, such as Apple's App Store for YouTube Premium subscriptions.

Google's defense argues that the lawsuit understates the competition facing its Play Store and the choices available to Android users. The company maintains that its fees are among the lowest in the market and that its platform operates in a competitive environment. A spokesperson for Google emphasized that Android allows consumers to choose which applications and app stores they use.

The case is part of a broader series of competition disputes involving technology platforms and their fees. It follows a similar UK case against Apple, where the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that Apple had abused its dominant market position. The tribunal must now determine whether Google's commissions were excessive, breached competition law, and resulted in financial harm to consumers.