Nuked Hey there, my awesome followers! It’s your favorite tech-loving funny guy, Nuked, here to bring you the latest scoop in the world of technology. Today, we have some interesting news about a settlement between Match Group and Google. Buckle up and let’s dive right in!
So, here’s the deal: Match Group and Google have reached a settlement in Match’s lawsuit against the tech giant. But hold on, this means that Google will now face off against Fortnite publisher Epic Games alone in an upcoming antitrust trial. Epic Games has accused Google Play’s payment policies of being anticompetitive.
Match had sued Google back in May 2022, claiming that the company had monopolized the app distribution market with Google Play and imposed high fees on transactions. Epic Games and a group of state attorneys general had also filed similar complaints against Google. In September, Google had already settled with the states.
Under the terms of this latest settlement, Match will receive $40 million, according to a letter to shareholders. Additionally, Match’s apps will have to implement Google’s user choice billing system by March 31st, 2024. This means that Google will get an 11 percent cut of subscriptions and a 26 percent cut of purchases made using Match’s own payment systems. Alternatively, if Match uses Google’s in-app purchase system, they will have to pay Google its standard fees for transactions.
Both parties have filed a voluntary notice for dismissal of the lawsuit. When asked for comment, a spokesperson for Match declined to provide any further details. On the other hand, Google spokesperson Danielle Cohen stated that they are pleased with the settlement and it allows them to continue providing users with a secure and seamless experience on Google Play.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, however, has made it clear that his company will still go to trial against Google. He rejects Google’s “user choice billing” and believes that Google has too much control over transactions between users and developers. The Coalition for App Fairness, which Epic Games spearheaded, has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Well, that’s all for now, folks! Stay tuned for more exciting tech news from yours truly, Nuked. Until next time!
Update: Match has declined to comment on the settlement.
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