OA.No.418 of 2023

OA.No.418 of 2023

in

C.S.(Comm.Div).No.109 of 2023

S.SOUNTHAR , J.

The instant application has been filed by the applicant/plaintiff

seeking injunction restraining the respondents from removing/delisting the

mobile applications (mobile apps) owned and operated by the applicant in

Google Play Store for its refusal or failure to accept or subscribe to the

Google payments in terms of Service-Seller (IN) posted on 02.06.2022,

Payment Policies, Policies relating to service fees, terms etc.

2. According to the applicant/plaintiff, it is engaged in the

business of online matchmaking and it is an internationally renowned

provider of online services for individuals looking to meet and marry. The

applicant's app is listed in the Google Play Store app pre-loaded in mobile

phone operating system android owned and operated by the respondents. The

applicant entered into a Developer Distribution Agreement with 3^rd

respondent for listing of applicant's App in Google Play store.

3. The 7^th respondent is a company incorporated under the laws

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OA.No.418 of 2023

of India and it operates as an online ''Payment Aggregator” facilitates e-

commerce sites and merchants to accept various payment instruments from

customers for completion of payment obligations without a need for

merchants to create a separate payment integration system of their own.

4. According to the applicant, around the year 2020, the

respondents herein made the use of Google Play Billing System “GPBS”

mandatory and exclusive for processing payments for downloading paid

Apps, In-App Purchases.

5. It is also asserted by the applicant that on the basis of

subsequent Investigation Report, the Competition Commission of India by

order dated 25.10.2022 directed the respondents not to restrict app developers

from using any third party billing/payment processing services, either for in-

app purchases or for purchasing apps. The respondents were also directed not

to discriminate or otherwise take any adverse measures against such apps

using third party billing/payment process service in any manner.

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OA.No.418 of 2023

6. It was also asserted by the applicant that the respondents

instead of complying with the orders passed by the Competition Commission

of India in it's letter and spirit, in order to circumvent the same, permitted the

app developers in India to use “Alternative Billing System/User Choice

Billing” along side and in addition to the GPBS. In effect, integrating of

“GPBS” by app developers was made mandatory.

7. The applicant also asserted in the affidavit that as per the

payment policy of the respondents they proposed to charge service fee at the

rate of 15% for the first $1M (USD) revenue earned by the app developer

every year. For the revenue earned in excess of $1M(USD), the service fee

proposed by the respondents is at 30%. It is also stated that in cases where

app developers offer alternative billing system in addition to Google Play

Billing System for transaction in India, the service fee for such transaction

using the Alternative Billing System is equal to the transaction via Google

Play's Billing System reduced by 4%. In other words, even if customers

make payment for app purchase or In-app purchase by utilizing Alternative

Billing System, the respondents proposed to charge 11% or 26% as service

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OA.No.418 of 2023

charge, depending on revenue generated. It is stated by the applicant that

when customers make payment by using Alternative Billing System levy of

service fee by the respondents at the rate of 11% or 26% depending on the

size of revenue generated by app developers in a year, without doing any

service with regard to the payment, is on the face of it, unconscionable.

8. The learned Senior Counsel for the applicant by