Google Settles Class Action Lawsuit for £260m Without Admitting Liability
A class action lawsuit against Google has reached a settlement worth £260m, with lawyers and funders agreeing to accept £34m less than their entitlement to secure approval from the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).
The case, brought by Professor Barry Rodger on behalf of UK Android app developers, alleges that Google used technical and contractual restrictions to ensure its Play Store is the only place where apps can be marketed or sold.
Professor Rodger said he was confident in the class's liability case but recognized the uncertainty surrounding damages, which could have been significantly higher than the settlement sum.
The CAT will next week consider approving the settlement, which includes £160m for UK app developers and £100m for lawyers and funders.
Geradin partner David Gallagher said the funders and lawyers were together owed around £134m but agreed to take £100m, with funder Bench Walk Partners' capital outlay reduced from £27.7m to £6.2m as its profit.