The Madras High Court has reportedly barred Google from delisting Matrimony.com, a leading Indian matchmaking service, from its search results until June 1. The court’s decision comes in response to a petition filed by Matrimony.com, which claims that Google’s new billing system for its Play Store is anti-competitive and violates Indian competition law.
Google recently introduced a new policy that requires app developers to use its proprietary billing system for in-app purchases, rather than alternative payment systems. The move has sparked backlash from app developers, who argue that it gives Google an unfair advantage and limits their ability to monetize their apps.
Matrimony.com is one of several Indian companies that have objected to Google’s new billing policy. The company claims that the policy is discriminatory and harms smaller app developers by limiting their revenue streams.
The Madras High Court’s decision to bar Google from delisting Matrimony.com from its search results is a significant victory for the company and could have implications for other Indian app developers. However, the court’s ruling is temporary and does not address the broader issue of Google’s billing policy, which is still the subject of ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny in India.
The dispute between Matrimony.com and Google highlights the challenges and tensions inherent in the relationship between app developers and the major tech platforms. As the Indian digital economy continues to grow, these issues are likely to become increasingly important and will require careful consideration and management by regulators and industry stakeholders.
The company’s objection to Google’s new billing policy for in-app purchases is part of a wider controversy that has been brewing in the Indian tech industry for several months. In September 2020, Google announced that it would be enforcing a new policy that requires app developers to use its proprietary billing system for in-app purchases, rather than alternative payment systems. The move was seen by many developers as a way for Google to monopolize the in-app payment market and extract a larger share of revenue from app developers.
Since the announcement, several Indian app developers have objected to Google’s new policy, arguing that it is anti-competitive and violates Indian competition law. The Indian government has also taken notice, and in January 2021, it asked the Competition Commission of India to investigate Google’s alleged abuse of its dominant market position.
Matrimony.com’s petition to the Madras High Court is one of several legal challenges to Google’s new billing policy. The court’s decision to temporarily bar Google from delisting Matrimony.com from its search results is a significant victory for the company, as it ensures that its platforms remain visible and accessible to users. However, the broader issue of Google’s billing policy is still the subject of ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny in India and is likely to be a contentious issue for some time to come.
The dispute between Matrimony.com and Google highlights the complex relationship between app developers and the major tech platforms. As the Indian digital economy continues to grow, these issues are likely to become increasingly important and will require careful consideration and management by regulators and industry stakeholders.