The Supreme Court has agreed to hear pleas from numerous startups challenging Alphabet Inc's Google billing policy, marking a significant development in the ongoing debate over app store regulations.
Court's Decision
On Friday, February 9, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, agreed to hear the appeals filed by startups against Google's billing policy. However, the court declined to grant an interim order to protect these startups from potential removal from the Google Play Store.
Legal Representation
Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Balbir Singh, representing the startups, urged the court to safeguard their interests until the appeal is resolved, emphasizing the vulnerability of these small entities. Despite their arguments, the Chief Justice refused to issue any interim relief.
Background
The decision follows the Madras High Court's dismissal of appeals filed by startups challenging Google's in-app payment billing policy. Although the High Court did not rule in favor of the startups, it instructed Google not to delist certain companies from the Play Store for at least three weeks.
Continued Debate
The dispute over Google's billing system gained traction after the tech giant reduced its commission rates to 11-26%, down from the previous range of 15-30%, following intervention from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Industry Response
Critics of Google's billing policy, including People Group's founder and CEO Anupam Mittal, have likened the tech giant's practices to those of the historic East India Company, drawing parallels to colonial-era taxation. The comparison underscores the contentious nature of the debate surrounding app store regulations and their implications for startups.
Looking Ahead
With the Supreme Court agreeing to hear the startups' pleas, the legal battle over Google's billing policy is expected to intensify. The outcome of these proceedings will likely have far-reaching implications for app developers, tech giants, and the broader digital ecosystem.
