On Tuesday 19 August, Google announced that it had made targeted changes to its app store, and more specifically to its “external offers programme” for developers who use its Play Store to distribute apps in the European Economic Area.
This change comes at a time when the US company is being forced by the EU to change some of its internal rules for its applications, as part of the obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) (see EUROPE 13378/8).
For many months, developers have been calling for a reduction in the fees charged by the platform in order to be able to distribute their apps via the Play Store.
Like Apple (see EUROPE 13669/2), Google is accused of restricting the ability of developers to direct users to download resources outside the Google Store, thereby avoiding additional costs.
These changes take the form of a revised pricing structure for developers. Two levels of service are available: - the first is compulsory, and is considered by Google to be “required for essential service that developers need in order to have a safe and reliable app”; - the second, optional level, providing access to “additional services” to enhance the visibility and management of applications.
These changes have already provoked a reaction: Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, who had entered into open war with Apple over similar issues (see EUROPE 13368/15), said the changes were “abusive charges” and illegal under the DMA.
See the Google communication: https://aeur.eu/f/i4k (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)