Google Temporarily Allows Tinder Users To Make Payments Outside Play Store

Tinder's lawsuit against Google is still ongoing. (photo; doc. pixbay)

JAKARTA - Match Group Inc announced on Friday, May 20, that Alphabet Inc's Google will temporarily allow the dating app maker to offer users choices in their payment system.

Match had previously sued Google in early May 2021, calling the move a "last resort" to prevent Tinder and other apps from being booted from the Google Play Store for refusing to share up to 30% of sales with the app's service center. The trial date for the case is currently set for April 2023.

Match said last Friday that it had withdrawn its request for a temporary restraining order against Google after making concessions that would have prevented the Match app from being removed from the Play Store for offering alternative payment options.

"Match should continue to integrate Google Play billing through a trial or until the dispute is resolved," Google said.

Match's lawsuit comes against the backdrop of an ongoing case brought by "Fortnite" maker Epic Games, as well as dozens of US state attorneys general and others in targeting anti-competitive behavior from Google allegedly linked to the Play store.

Google has said it will block downloads of some Match apps by June 1 unless they only offer Google's payment and revenue sharing system, the lawsuit says.

According to the lawsuit, the majority of users on Match's most popular app, Tinder, prefer its payment system, which allows for installment plans, bank transfers, and other features not provided by Google.

Match said Friday that it plans to put up to $40 million into an escrow account, rather than paying Google directly for billing transactions on the Android operating system outside of Google Play Store billing, as part of an interim agreement.

Match has also raised concerns over Apple Inc.'s App Store fees and payment policies.

Apple has also been criticized for building its App Store into a "walled garden" meant to attract fees from developers seeking to access users in the iOS ecosystem.

Google and Apple charge developers hefty commissions and impose controls on software developers, forcing them to pay large amounts of money when in-app payment systems are used. This behavior is considered a monopoly in the US.