Here’s who is eligible for a portion of Google’s $700 million settlement

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Google must pay $700 million in a settlement over its Android app store monopoly.

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A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, including Arizona’s Kris Mayes, secured the settlement over the company’s app distribution and in-app payments.

“Google used its monopoly power over the app market to drive up prices,” Attorney General Mayes said. “With this settlement, we’re saying loud and clear that anticompetitive conduct like this will not be tolerated. A competitive, fair marketplace promotes lower prices, higher quality goods and services and more options for consumers. My office will continue to go after illegal and unfair business practices to protect Arizonans.”

Anyone who made purchases on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023 will be eligible for a portion of the settlement. Most recipients do not need to fill out a claim form and will receive their portion through PayPal or Venmo, officials said.

As part of the settlement, Google must change how it does business. Over a minimum five-year period, app developers will be free to offer alternative payment options, notify users when cheaper prices are available outside of Google’s billing platform and feature their apps on rival app stores without facing retaliation. Additionally, Android users will be permitted to install apps from sources other than the Play Store for a minimum of seven years.

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Arizona joined the group of attorneys general suing Google in 2021 for “illegally dominating Android app distribution and for charging consumers up to 30% per transaction,” a statement from Mayes office said.

Consumers can find more information about the settlement at the website here.

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