Chennai, Jan 22 (KNN) A division bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed the appeals filed by Indian start-ups challenging Google's app billing policy.

However, the court has granted interim relief by instructing Google not to delist the mobile applications of these start-ups from the Play Store for a period of three weeks. The formal order is expected to be released on Monday, according to sources, reported ET.

This decision follows a previous ruling in August 2023 when the Madras High Court dismissed petitions from companies such as Bharat Matrimony, Shaadi.com, Unacademy, and several others against Google's in-app billing policy.

At that time, the court stated that the matter fell within the purview of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), a stance reaffirmed in Friday's verdict.

The interim relief granted in August stemmed from a plea filed by Matrimony.com against Google's policy, seeking protection against removal from the Play Store for non-compliance.

It's worth noting that the CCI had imposed a Rs 936 crore penalty on Google in October 2022 and directed the tech giant not to restrict app developers from utilising third-party billing services.

In summary, the Madras High Court's recent decision signifies a setback for Indian start-ups challenging Google's app billing policy.

While their appeals were dismissed, the court's directive for a three-week stay on delisting provides a temporary reprieve, with the formal order expected to be disclosed on Monday.

(KNN Bureau)