E-publishing & streaming portals move Madras HC against Google

Crafto, an art and design platform; Altt, a streaming player; Pratilipi, an audiobook portal, have approached the Madras High Court seeking relief against the payment policy implementation by Google. Earlier, brands such as Shaadi.com, Matrimony.com, TrulyMadly, Kuku FM, and Unacademy, had approached the High Court against the notice given by Google that they have to either adopt the mandated billing policy or face the risk of being removed from Google Playstore.

Anupam  Mittam, Founder, Shaadi,com, alleged that due to Google’s predatory moves, companies are facing much distress and consequently they are approaching the courts for seeking relief against the discriminatory policy by Google. He added that Google has already taken a large part of the revenues of digital brands.

The petitioners have claimed that local law has been violated by Google’s payment policy, and pleaded that the imposition of 11-26% commission on revenue by brands would lead to an irreversible loss to the app developers.