Google faces £1bn UK class action over Play Store commissions

Google Play Store class action lawsuit app store commissions competition law consumer damages

A major class action lawsuit against Google is commencing at the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal, seeking more than £1 billion in damages. The claim, led by consumer tech policy expert Liz Coll and supported by the law firm Hausfeld, alleges that Google breached competition law by charging app developers commissions of up to 30% on Play Store purchases.

Plaintiffs argue these excessive fees were passed on to consumers through higher prices for paid apps, subscriptions, and in-app purchases. The legal action covers approximately 20 million UK consumers and businesses for transactions made between October 1, 2015, and July 31, 2026. If successful, the payout could average roughly £60 per person.

Google has vowed to defend its services vigorously, stating that the Play Store offers some of the lowest fees in the market and provides a secure environment for users. The company maintains that Android offers more choice than other mobile platforms and that only about 3% of the largest developers pay such commissions.

Entities

Alphabet · Competition Appeal Tribunal · Google · Hausfeld · Liz Coll · United Kingdom

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 9 SOURCES] Approximately 20 million UK consumers and businesses are included in the claim. www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk · www.keighleynews.co.uk · www.gbnews.com · www.ithome.com · www.pocketgamer.biz · +4 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Unverified app stores and payment methods could increase fraud and scams for users. www.ithome.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Only about 3% of the largest app developers actually pay commissions on the Play Store. www.ithome.com · www.clubic.com · zdnet.co.kr
[● 9 SOURCES] The class action seeks more than £1 billion in damages. www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk · www.keighleynews.co.uk · www.gbnews.com · www.ithome.com · www.pocketgamer.biz · +4 more
[● 9 SOURCES] Google charged app developers a commission of up to 30% on Play Store purchases, which was passed to consumers through higher prices. www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk · www.keighleynews.co.uk · www.gbnews.com · www.ithome.com · www.pocketgamer.biz · +4 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Google denies any anti-competitive behavior and maintains that its Play Store fees are among the lowest in the market. www.gbnews.com · www.ithome.com · www.pocketgamer.biz · news.stv.tv · www.independent.co.uk · +3 more
[● 9 SOURCES] The claim covers purchases made through the Google Play Store or on Android devices between October 1, 2015, and July 31, 2026. www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk · www.keighleynews.co.uk · www.gbnews.com · www.ithome.com · www.pocketgamer.biz · +4 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The trial is being heard at the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal. www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk · www.keighleynews.co.uk · www.pocketgamer.biz · news.stv.tv · www.independent.co.uk · +3 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The claim is led by consumer tech policy expert Liz Coll. www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk · www.keighleynews.co.uk · influencermagazine.uk · www.gbnews.com · news.stv.tv · +2 more