Google Slapped With French Fine Over Abusive App Store Practices (bloomberg.com) 17
Alphabet's Google was fined 2 million euros ($2.2 million) by the Paris Commercial Court over abusive practices toward developers on its app store. From a report: The U.S. tech giant will also have to change seven clauses from its contracts dating back to years 2015 and 2016, that included a 30% commission on revenues generated by developers on the Google Play Store, according to a text of Monday's ruling. Google, as well as Apple, were taken to court in 2018 by the French Ministry of Finance, for imposing a "significant imbalance in the rights and obligations" concerning app developers, including the right for Google to unilaterally modify or terminate the contracts.
$2.2 million? (Score:2)
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Dr Evil called, he wants his 60s ransom back!
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That's a slap on the wrist if I've ever seen one
Yes, because the case was looking to force a change in contract to be in line with "fair market" regulations, not be punitive or seek restitution. If somebody felt like they got slighted by the old way things worked, then they can seek recompense on their own terms or via class action (which there is such a case in the Netherlands and they're looking for money in the "B" billions).
Not every court case exists to challenge a juggernaut and see it fall. Some are insanely yawn inducing, like this one that for
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To me clauses like "we can modify [unilaterally] our terms and condition" should never be allowed in any contract and it is not a small thing at all. These clauses are almost every contract with a large organization and are wholly unfair. Google would never accept such a clause that favors the developer, why should it be acceptable the other way around. At least once a month I get an email notification from Samsung that they have changed their terms and conditions, can I decline? no! Do I get a refund on my
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The solution is:
1. Make it illegal for any unenforceable provisions to be in a contract. The party writing it must ensure all provisions are valid under the law, and should be fined per violation.
2. All non-standard contracts (defined by law) involving individuals must be signed in the presence of a notary after legal representation has been provided to both sides.
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That's a slap on the wrist if I've ever seen one...
It's only a slap the first time. This isn't America. It's not about punishment, it's about the correct practices. Expect a bigger fine if the changes aren't implemented shortly, followed by a bigger, and bigger fine.
Google is noticing. You live in a fantasy if you think they ignore courts just because of the size of the dollar sign.
Re: $2.2 million? (Score:3)
Apple got a $5 million penalty payment for not changing the payment options got dating apps in the appstore in the Netherlands.
Now that's not much. Except they can levy that 10 times in a row, which they did. So now it's $50 million. Today Apple finally came up with an acceptable proposal.
Note that the 50 million dollar was the max, but that the Dutch authorities could have imposed a second penalty for non compliance, bigger than the first, that would also run ten times. At $150 million dollar, it gets pain
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Not sure about the French system, but they might have comparable incentives
The ruling was a fine as well as a demand to change in the contracts. I don't know of any legal system which doesn't have "contempt of court" as a feature which ignoring a court ruling certainly falls under.
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Nah, that's still a slap. Go higher!
Finding it difficult to be outraged (Score:2)
If you don't like Google, then don't use their app store? Unlike Apple, you have choices on Android.
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you have choices on Android.
As a developer you actually don't. That's why market power is relevant. The size of the Play Store combined with Google's practices which forced the Play Store to be the default on every Android handset means that a developer effectively must use it to get any kind of meaningful coverage of the Android user base.
Anti-trust laws don't care if alternatives exists, they care about market power. Nothing more.
Excuse Me (Score:2)
Huh? (Score:2)
Apple Slapped With French Fine Over Abusive App Store Practices
There, fixed the headline for you. Google would never do that.
Re: Huh? (Score:2)
Actually, that happened today in The Netherlands, except it was 10 times $5 million dollar.
Slapped ! (Score:1)
... and when will Bloomberg be fined? (Score:2)