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Notices Go Out in $700 Million Google Play Antitrust Settlement

Most eligible users are slated to receive automatic PayPal or Venmo payments following a court approval hearing on April 30, 2026.

Overview

  • Emails are now being sent to affected Google Play customers as the settlement notice process begins.
  • Eligibility covers purchases on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023 for accounts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with $630 million allocated to consumers and $70 million to states.
  • Payments will vary by spending but are expected to be at least $2 per eligible user, with most distributed automatically through PayPal or Venmo after the court’s final approval, and a supplemental claims process is available for those without linked accounts or outdated contact information.
  • Consumers may opt out or object by February 19, 2026, and the court has set a final approval hearing for April 30, 2026.
  • Injunctive terms require Google to allow alternative billing, enable third‑party app installs, and let developers offer lower prices, and Google continues to deny wrongdoing.