Google has decided to reinstate more than 100 Indian apps, including Matrimony.com, after removing them last Friday due to a billing disagreement. The move comes as the Indian government and local startups pushed back against Google’s policy on in-app payment fees.
A spokesperson from Google said, “In the spirit of cooperation, we are temporarily reinstating the apps of the developers with appeals pending in the Supreme Court.”
“Google maintains its right to implement and enforce its business model, as established in various courts. We will invoice our full applicable service fees in the interim and extend payment timelines for these companies. We look forward to a collaborative effort to find solutions that respect the needs of all parties,” it adds.
The decision follows a meeting between Google India head Sanjay Gupta and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The meeting aimed to address the concerns of Indian startups opposing Google’s imposition of fees ranging from 11% to 26% on in-app payments despite antitrust authorities advising against it.
According to PTI, the Union Minister has stated, “Government takes a strong view of Google de-listing some apps from Play Store, and it will not allow this de-listing of apps.” The move to reinstate the apps is a step towards finding common ground between Google and the Indian startup community.
