Overview
- A class action representing about 20 million UK consumers and businesses has gone to trial in the Competition Appeal Tribunal in early October 2026 seeking more than £1 billion in damages.
- Plaintiffs say Google charged app developers up to roughly 30% commission and that those fees were passed on to users in paid apps, subscriptions and in‑game purchases.
- The suit covers purchases from 1 October 2015 to 31 July 2026 and uses concrete examples, such as a £10 Candy Crush purchase where plaintiffs say Google kept about £3 for much of the claim period.
- Liz Coll brings the claim with law firm Hausfeld after proceedings began in 2021 and delays caused by related settlements including Alphabet’s £260 million developers’ settlement in September 2026.
- Google rejects the allegation, saying Play offers choice and low fees and that it will defend the case vigorously, while the trial follows a 2025 CAT ruling against Apple that has sharpened scrutiny of app‑store commissions.