Match Group Inc (MTCH.O) filed a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google on Monday, calling the move a “last resort” to keep Tinder and its other applications off the Google Play store for refusing to contribute up to 30% of their sales.
Match’s action comes on the heels of several lawsuits targeting Google’s allegedly anticompetitive behavior with the Play store, including those filed by Epic Games, dozens of US state attorneys general, and others.
Match was allegedly aiming to avoid paying for the enormous value it received, according to Google.
“We charge for our services, just like any other business, and we safeguard users from fraud, just like any other responsible platform,” Google added. It claims that their payment system helps to prevent frauds.
Match’s complaint accuses Google of breaking federal and state antitrust laws and aims to prohibit such activity.
It’s notable since for the past decade, some of Match’s applications have been excluded from Google regulations. According to the complaint, Google has stated that it would restrict downloads of certain apps by June 1 unless they exclusively use its payment system and split income.
According to the complaint, the majority of Tinder users prefer Match’s payment mechanism, which allows for installment plans, bank transfers, and other services not offered by Google.
To address concerns, Google noted that developers may skip the Play store and that it has decreased costs and launched alternative initiatives.
