Epic's Lawsuit Against Google Won't Stop Bandcamp In-App Payments

Bandcamp will continue to support Artists on Android (photo: Google Play)

JAKARTA - Bandcamp co-founder and CEO, Ethan Diamond said Google has agreed to leave the Android music app with its own payment method pending the court case between Google and Epic Games is completed.

Bandcamp is an internet music company founded in 2008 by Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker.

Thanks Google!https://t.co/yrg6WEFaDq

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) May 20, 2022

In March, Epic Games had acquired Bandcamp. Last month, Bandcamp's new parent company filed a motion against Google asking the government to block the tech giant from removing the Bandcamp app from its app store.

On May 20, Epic and Google filed Joint Terms in a California court, with the latter company agreeing not to remove Bandcamp from its app store.

According to a motion filed by Epic against Google in April regarding Bandcamp, Google has threatened to remove apps like Bandcamp, from its app store on June 1, 2022, if they don't adopt Google payments.

Since 2015, artists and labels have been using the Bandcamp Android app to sell music and merchandise directly to their fans.

Using Google's payment system requires app makers to pay a revenue share to Google. Epic and Bandcamp argued that the changes "threatened to endanger Epic and the thousands of artists who rely on the Bandcamp app".

"Google's policy changes take effect, starting June 1, we will have to charge Google consumers, charge artists, run our Android business permanently at a loss, or turn off digital sales in Android apps."

Additionally, this policy change will affect Bandcamp's ability to quickly pay artists, instead of receiving payment after 24 to 48 hours, artists may not be paid until 15 to 45 days after sale.

Under those Joint Terms, the music platform can continue to use its own payment system on Android devices, and Google has agreed not to remove Bandcamp from the Play Store as long as the agreement filed today is in effect.

Bandcamp and Epic have agreed, however, to begin placing 10 percent of all revenue generated from in-app purchases on Android devices into an escrow account until Epic's case against Google is resolved.