Google may remove 10 popular apps from Play Store over non-compliance with guidelines 

Google has announced its intention to remove 10 popular apps from the Play Store due to non-compliance with guidelines. The move comes after an extended period during which these developers have not paid for the services provided by Google Play, despite interim protections secured from court.Despite efforts to work with developers and find solutions, Google has emphasized the importance of applying its policies consistently across the ecosystem. The company asserts that allowing a small group of developers to avoid paying their fair share creates an uneven playing field and puts other apps at a disadvantage.

“Today, we have over 200,000 Indian developers using Google Play who adhere to our policies, helping us ensure we have a safe platform; however, for an extended period of time, 10 companies, including many well-established ones, have chosen to not pay for the immense value they receive on Google Play by securing interim protections from court. These developers comply with payment policies of other app stores,” Google said in a blog post.

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Google has given these developers more than three years to prepare, including three weeks after a Supreme Court order, before taking necessary enforcement steps.“We’ve always respected local laws. For years, no court or regulator has denied Google Play’s right to charge for the value and services we provide. On 9 February, the Supreme Court also refused to interfere with our right to do so. While some of the developers that were refused interim protection have started fairly participating in our business model and ecosystem, others choose to find ways to not do so,” the company said in the blog post.

As part of its Payments Policy, developers are offered three billing options to comply with guidelines:

–Developers can allow users to access content paid for outside the app without paying a service fee.
– This enables developers to transact with millions of customers globally and provides users with safe payment options.
–Developers can offer an alternative billing system alongside Google Play’s, with an additional four percent fee reduction for users opting for alternative systems.

Google has told developers that they have other options to operate their businesses on Android, including distribution through alternative app stores or directly via their websites. Existing users will still be able to access the apps without interruption.

Google’s commitment to investing in India’s digital future remains unwavering, with ongoing efforts to bring the highest available standard of technology to the ecosystem. The company looks forward to continuing its work with the entire ecosystem to ensure the long-term viability of these efforts in India.The decision to remove these apps underscores Google’s dedication to maintaining a fair and safe environment for users and developers alike within the Play Store ecosystem.