Google has made the decision to fight back against Match, which owns several online dating platforms, including Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge, claiming that Match is trying to "gain an unfair advantage" about other application developers" and pays nothing to use the Google Play Store according to the complaint filed.
Google's lawsuit comes just two months after Match Group filed its own lawsuit against Google, accusing the Play Store of acting like a monopoly by taking a percentage of in-app purchases. Spotify and "Fortnite" owner Epic Games have also filed complaints against Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store.
Earlier this year, Match Group filed a lawsuit against Google for violating antitrust laws, following a ruling that required all Android developers to process payments for digital goods and services through the Play Store's billing system.
Following the first lawsuit in May, a temporary settlement was reached between Google and Match. This deal allows Match to remain on the Play Store. It also allows the company to use its own payment system. Additionally, Google has also given the green light to make a good faith effort to resolve Match's billing issues. In turn, Match had to make an effort to offer Google's billing system as an alternative.
However, according to Alphabet, the parent company of Google, Match Group now wants to avoid paying "nothing at all." According to court documents, this includes the 15-30% Play Store Match fee. The documents indicate that Match Group never intended to honor the contractual terms it agreed to. In addition, it is said that compared to other app developers, Match Group will be in an advantageous position.
Match Group is one of many applications including Spotify and "Fortnite" parent Epic Games, who claimed that Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store were monopolies. Google and Apple charge a 15-30% developer fee when users make in-app purchases from an Android or iPhone. Google allows users to bypass its Play Store and download apps in a practice called "sideloading," but Apple requires apps to use its app store exclusively.
Google's counterattack counters Match Group's accusations. A Google spokesperson said:
“Match Group has entered into a contract with us and this legal action seeks to enforce Match's portion of the agreement; We look forward to presenting our case. In the meantime, we will continue to defend ourselves against Match's baseless accusations."
In a statement, Match said that Counterattack is a prime example of a monopoly where the company uses its power to scare other developers into submission. Google uses counterclaims as a red flag because they don't want anyone else chasing them...
Match Group's troubling perspective on consumer billing demonstrates exactly why Google Play's billing system is an integral part of the overall consumer experience at Google. Play.
Google Play's billing system provides consumers with a consistent, safe and secure way to pay for apps, subscriptions and in-app purchases. This experience leads to more consumer transactions, which in turn creates demand for developers to continually innovate to create new and better Apps and in-app products. Google Play's billing system benefits users and developers alike, and is a key part of the success of the Android ecosystem.
Match Group disguises its true motives by claiming copycats and fundamentally flawed antitrust theories. In doing so, Match Group ignores that Android competes aggressively against Apple's iOS. And, by providing Android as an open source mobile operating system ("OS") to smartphone manufacturers ("OEMs") for free, Google has broadened access to the smartphone and mobile app market, creating huge incentives. for developers to invest in applications that make virtually every sector of the US economy more efficient, affordable, and accessible to users.
Match claims that Google's Play Store rules violate federal and state laws. The technology company trusts that at the beginning of next year the demand will be resolved in its favor. Match refers to an antitrust action launched last year by states and the federal government, which are reviewing prices on Google's Play Store.
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