Google Settles UK App Developers’ Class Action Lawsuit for $353 Million

Google has agreed to settle a mass lawsuit brought on behalf of UK app developers for £260 million, which equates to approximately $353.21 million. According to reports, the claim was previously valued at just over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) and sought compensation for developers who sold applications through the Google Play store in the UK. The legal action was led by academic Barry Rodger.

Lawyers for the case alleged that Google abused its dominant market position by preventing developers from distributing applications through alternative channels and by charging an unfair commission, which was usually 30 percent. The case was scheduled to go to trial next month at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), but Rodger has now reached a proposed settlement subject to the tribunal’s formal approval.

Under the terms of the agreement, Google has made no admission of liability or wrongdoing and maintains that it has strong defenses against the claim. Out of the total settlement amount, £160 million (about $217 million) will be made available to eligible app developers who sold an application on Google Play between August 2018 and July 2026. An additional £100 million (around $135 million) will cover the costs of bringing and funding the lawsuit.

Barry Rodger described the proposed agreement as a great outcome for app developers, noting it provides meaningful financial compensation to businesses that would have been unable to take on Google individually. This legal matter marks the fourth mass lawsuit against a major technology company to reach this stage since the start of 2025, following comparable cases involving Apple, Qualcomm, and Sony.