Google Issues Warning to Indian App Developers, Threatens Removal from Play Store: Bharat Matrimony, Info Edge, Unacademy, Kuku FM and Others in Focus

Google has issued a warning to app developers in India, stating that it will remove their apps from the Play Store if they don’t follow Google’s payment policies. This move is a response to 10 companies, some well-established, in India not paying fees despite benefiting from the platform.

These developers had more than three years to comply with the Play Store’s payment policy, but some continued to avoid fees. Google emphasized that these firms still follow payment policies on other app stores.

The decision comes after the Madras High Court rejected petitions from Indian tech companies against Google’s new billing system in January. Companies like Bharat Matrimony, Shadi.com, Unacademy, Kuku FM, Alt Digital Media, and Info Edge were among those filing the petitions.

Google explained that it respects local laws and has the right to charge for services provided on Google Play, as upheld by the Supreme Court on February 9. The company expressed concern about an unfair playing field due to some developers not paying fees, putting other apps at a competitive disadvantage.

Developers not complying with the policy can resubmit their apps by following the rules or partner with alternative app stores to maintain continuity in the Android ecosystem. To submit apps on the Play Store, developers can choose from three options: consumption-only without a service fee, integrating Google Play’s billing system with a fee, or offering an alternative billing system with a reduced fee.