Google faces a £1 billion ($1.3bn) trial at the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal over allegations that its 30% Google Play Store commission unlawfully inflated prices for around 20 million UK consumers and businesses over an 11-year window.

The seven-week collective action, brought by class representative Liz Coll, opens Tuesday in London and seeks damages for purchases made through the UK Google Play Store between October 1, 2015 and July 31, 2026. It targets commissions Google charged developers on apps, in-app digital purchases and subscriptions, and alleges those fees passed directly to end users via higher retail prices.

What is the claim alleging?

The suit argues Google abused its dominant position by levying commissions of up to 30% on digital transactions routed through Play. The case covers paid apps, in-game extras, subscriptions and upgrades purchased by UK-based consumers and businesses during the 11-year claim period. Major services whose in-app purchases or subscriptions fall within scope include:

• TikTok
• Tinder
• Strava
• Candy Crush
• Duolingo
• Roblox
• ChatGPT

Consumers and businesses who meet the claim's definition are automatically included as claimants and will not pay legal fees. Vannin Capital is funding the litigation, which carries third-party insurance.

Who is leading the case?

Liz Coll, a long-time consumer rights campaigner, is acting as class representative. Her case frames more than a decade of Play Store commission revenue as a competitor-side overcharge that consumers absorbed at the till. She has positioned the action as a vehicle to recover what she describes as unfair surcharges on routine digital spending.

"For more than a decade, Google has taken a cut of up to 30% on almost everything we buy through the Play Store," Coll said. "We say that charge was unfair and excessive, and that consumers paid for it. We will put that case to the Tribunal on behalf of 20 million people and businesses across the UK."

What is the trial timeline?

The Competition Appeal Tribunal scheduled hearings to run until November 20, 2026, with the seven-week window covering disclosure disputes, expert testimony and oral arguments. A judgment is expected after that date, though no specific ruling date has been published. If the tribunal certifies the claim and finds for the claimants, compensation mechanics — including how damages flow back to end users versus developers — remain unresolved.

What changes for studios and developers?

Studios are not the named plaintiffs here, but the case sits adjacent to their commercial concerns. A loss for Google could open parallel developer-side claims and force a re-pricing of live-service and subscription-led mobile titles. Any order altering Play Store fee structures would reshape revenue forecasting for UK-targeted games built around subscription loops and in-game item economies. Publishers operating on thin mobile margins will be monitoring the tribunal's findings closely.

What should the industry watch next?

The Competition Appeal Tribunal's handling of the certified period will determine how broadly the precedent bites. Watch for procedural directions on disclosure, and for any interim rulings on whether the 30% rate can be presumed unfair. A judgment is expected after November 20, 2026, and the tribunal's findings on causation between Google's commission and end-user prices will shape how UK platform-fee litigation evolves from here.