Attorney General Mayes, Bipartisan Coalition Secure $700 Million Google Settlement Over App Store Monopoly

PHOENIX — A federal court this week approved a $700 million settlement in a multistate antitrust lawsuit against Google. The lawsuit challenged Google's control over Android app distribution and in-app payments. The approval of the settlement ends a five-year case and gives relief to consumers nationwide who were affected by Google's actions.

"Google used its monopoly power over the app market to drive up prices," said Attorney General Kris Mayes. "With this settlement, we're saying loud and clear that anticompetitive conduct like this will not be tolerated. A competitive, fair marketplace promotes lower prices, higher quality goods and services and more options for consumers. My office will continue to go after illegal and unfair business practices to protect Arizonans."

Most of the settlement funds will go directly to people who made purchases on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023. Most recipients won't need to fill out a claim form and will receive their payments through PayPal or Venmo.

Additional information about the lawsuit and settlement is available on the settlement website.

The settlement forces Google to change its business practices. For at least five years, app developers may use alternate payment systems, inform customers about lower prices outside Google's billing system, and list their apps on competing stores without fear of retaliation. Android users can download apps from outside the Play Store for at least seven years.

In 2021, Arizona joined a bipartisan group of attorneys general who sued Google for illegally dominating Android app distribution and for charging consumers up to 30% per transaction.

Antitrust & Privacy Unit Chief Robert Bernheim and Senior Litigation Counsel Jayme Weber handled the case for Arizona.

AG Mayes joined this effort alongside the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.