Google fights £1 billion UK lawsuit over app store fees in latest Big Tech case

LONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) — Google was accused of abusing its dominance to levy excessive commissions on app developers, as a mass consumer lawsuit worth over £1 billion ($1.33 billion) began in London on Tuesday. The case — brought on behalf of around 20 million consumers who bought apps through Google's Play Store, or paid for in-app purchases and subscriptions between 2015 and this July — is the latest brought in Britain against Big Tech. Lawyers representing consumer advocate Liz Coll, who is leading the claim, say Google used its dominant position to charge commissions of up to 30% on purchases of apps through its Play Store, as well as on in-app purchases and subscriptions. They argue that those excessive commissions were passed on by app developers to consumers, citing as an example that when Google sold YouTube Premium through Apple's App Store it also decided to pass on the commission it was charged. But Google's parent Alphabet is fighting the lawsuit, which a spokesperson said ignores the degree of choice the Android platform gives consumers and that it charges "some of the lowest fees in the market". The tech giant's lawyers, who said Coll's case was unfounded, argued.