Malwarebytes researchers noted that vulnerable VMware ESXi virtual machines impacted with the updated ESXiArgs ransomware could not be decrypted with the data recovery script issued by the …
Google is allowing some Android apps to use their own payment systems after getting into battles with both Match Group and Epic Games’ Bandcamp, but the move might be temporary. The company is facing legal action for requiring apps in the Google Play Store to use its billing, and the interim solution Google came up with is to let those apps use their own payments — with a catch.
Match Group withdrew its temporary restraining order against Google on Friday, according to TechCrunch, which it had filed amid its antitrust lawsuit against the company. Match eked out some “concessions” from Google, including making sure its apps would not be ousted from the Play Store for using alternative payment options, TechCrunch reported. Rather than pay Google, Match is putting aside $40 million in an escrow account, maintaining that the fees are illegal and awaiting a judge’s ruling.
The lawsuit, which alleges that Google has “illegally monopolized” the app market for Android with its Play Store policy, is still ongoing. Google’s Play Store policy requires app developers use the company’s billing system, then takes a cut of the revenue. In the original complaint, Match claimed Google holding it “hostage,” while Google responded that it charges for services “like any business,” and that its commission is the “lowest rate among major app platforms.”
“We plan to rebut Match’s unfounded complaint and will be counter-suing for damages and breach of our developer contract,” a Google spokesperson told Protocol. “Match has agreed to put up to $40 million in escrow as a reserve against damages and to work to integrate Google Play’s billing system.”
Google also settled its differences with Epic Games on Friday, and won’t kick Epic subsidiary Bandcamp off of Google Play Store for using its own payment system, Music Business Worldwide reported. Under the agreement, Bandcamp will also start an escrow account for Google’s fees, setting aside 10% of its revenue generated from digital sales until Epic’s case against Google is resolved, the company said in a blog post.
Epic acquired online music platform Bandcamp, which has used its own billing system on Android since 2015, in March. Bandcamp was…
Dallas-based Match Group Inc. accused Alphabet Inc.’s Google in a lawsuit of acting as a monopolist with its app store billing rules, the latest escalation in a brawl over the mobile-app industry.
Match Group, which operates dating apps such as Tinder and OkCupid, alleged that Google breaks federal and state laws and abuses its power with a requirement that app developers use its billing system on Android devices.
“Ten years ago, Match Group was Google’s partner. We are now its hostage,” Match Group said in a complaint filed Monday in northern California federal court. “Blinded by the possibility of getting an ever-greater cut of the billions of dollars users spend each year on Android apps, Google set out to monopolize the market for how users pay for their Android apps.”
Google, like Apple Inc., has faced enormous recent legal and political scrutiny over the commission fees and billing restrictions both companies apply to paid services in their app stores. Congress is currently weighing a bill to force Google and Apple to change their business models.
In response to public pressure, Google has halved its 30% fee for some apps. But the company said it would tighten its rules that require the use of its billing system for in-app purchases, citing security concerns. Google gave a June 1 deadline to comply or be removed from its Play Store.
In March, Google announced it was letting select apps offer their own billing service in addition to Google’s on Android devices. Spotify Technology SA, another app store critic, said it was using this option and Google suggested more companies would follow.
Not Match Group, apparently.
“This lawsuit is a measure of last resort,” Chief Executive Officer Shar Dubey wrote in a statement.
Dubey said her company tried “in good faith” to resolve its concerns with Google but was left with “no choice but to take legal action.” In its filing, Match Group said that it asked Google to adopt this new “user billing” feature but Google refused.
Google representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg.
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