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Indian Watchdog Investigating Google’s Fees For In-App Payments

 |  May 14, 2023

An Indian regulator has reportedly begun an antitrust investigation into Google.

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    The inquiry by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) centers on a service fee Google charges for payments made in apps, Reuters reported Friday (May 12), citing a document it has seen that has not been made public.

    The CCI’s probe of Google’s User Choice Billing system follows complaints by some companies that the fee violates an earlier antitrust directive, according to the report.

    The directive issued by CCI in October 2022 said Google must allow developers to use third-party billing rather than requiring them to use its in-app payment system and pay a commission of 15% to 30%, the report said.

    Google began offering User Choice Billing, which allows alternative payments, in addition to its in-app payment system. However, companies note that UCB charges a service fee of 11% to 26%, per the report.

    Read more: Google Pays Full Indian Penalty For Abusing Dominant Position

    The CCI’s inquiry asks Google about the in-app payment system, User Choice Billing and its policies around sharing data and requires the company to respond in four weeks, according to the report.

    Reached for comment by PYMNTS, a Google spokesperson said that the company is committed to complying with local laws and regulations; that it has implemented changes and is in compliance with the CCI’s directions; and that it looks forward to engaging constructively with the CCI.

    The tech giant has said in the past that the fee enables it to invest in its app store and mobile operating system, distribute the operating system at no charge and provides tools and services to developers, the report said.

    Google extended the availability of User Choice Billing to India and several other countries in September, enabling third-party payment options for developers in the Google Play Store and saying developers will see the typical 15% to 30% service fee charged by Google drop by 4% when they opt to use a third-party billing option.

    “Android has always been a uniquely open operating system and we continue to evolve our platform and increase the choices available to developers and users while maintaining our ability to invest in the ecosystem,” a Google spokesperson said at the time.

    User Choice Billing made its debut six months earlier, in March 2022, when Google and Spotify announced a new agreement allowing users to download Spotify from the Google Play store and choose to pay with either Spotify’s payment system or Google Play Billing.

    Skydance Seals $8 Billion Paramount Deal with FCC Approval Skydance Seals $8 Billion Paramount Deal with FCC Approval

    Skydance Seals $8 Billion Paramount Deal with FCC Approval

     |  July 24, 2025

    The merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global has officially received the green light from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), paving the way for a major reshaping of one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios, according to Bloomberg.

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      This regulatory milestone concludes a lengthy and complex acquisition process that spanned over a year and included legal challenges and policy commitments. As reported by Bloomberg, the FCC’s approval followed Skydance’s agreement to a range of conditions related to political neutrality in programming and the discontinuation of certain diversity initiatives.

      The transaction positions David Ellison, Skydance’s CEO and son of Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison, at the helm of Paramount Global—a media conglomerate that encompasses CBS, MTV, and Paramount Pictures. Ellison secured the deal last July after months of negotiation with Shari Redstone, whose family has long controlled the company. He ultimately outmaneuvered competing bids from Sony Group Corp. and financier Edgar Bronfman Jr., per Bloomberg.

      Related: Paramount and Skydance Make Their Case: Defending $8 Billion Merger Plan at FCC

      FCC Chairman Brendan Carr acknowledged the potential for reform at Paramount, particularly at CBS, which has faced criticism in recent years. Carr said that Skydance provided written assurances that its content would reflect a broad spectrum of political and ideological perspectives. As part of those commitments, the newly merged company will appoint an ombudsman to investigate and address complaints about bias in programming for a period of two years.

      In addition, the new leadership has agreed to halt diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, a move the FCC said aligns the company’s practices with legal standards and public interest principles.

      The deal includes the full integration of Skydance Media into Paramount and a capital infusion exceeding $8 billion from Ellison and investment firm RedBird Capital Partners.

      Source: Bloomberg