Professor Barry Rodger brought a claim on behalf of UK based app developers to seek damages for alleged losses caused by Google.

That claim has now settled.

What has happened?

Prominent competition law academic Professor Barry Rodger brought a class action lawsuit against Google on behalf of UK Android app developers.

Professor Rodger alleged that, from August 2018 onwards, Google used a variety of technical and contractual restrictions to ensure that Google’s Play Store was the only place where UK app developers could market or sell apps designed for Android devices. It was alleged that Google then used its dominant position in app distribution to require developers who sell digital content to pay excessive and unfair commissions (of up to 30%) on sales of apps and digital content to customers. Professor Rodger claimed that, absent the combination of exclusionary and exploitative conduct, app developers would have paid less to distribute their apps and sell their digital content.

Professor Barry Rodger settled his claim with Google for £260m. The settlement was approved at a hearing on 16 September 2026.

What happens next?

Professor Rodger will now distribute the settlement sum to class members.

Professor Rodger is currently working with his claims administrator to set up the distribution process. Details of how class members may claim any entitlement to the settlement sum will be published on this website in the coming weeks.

Class members have until 18 January 2027 to opt out of the settlement. For more details of how to opt out, please see here.

Who is involved?

Professor Barry Rodger is assisted by a team made up of expert competition lawyers, litigators and economists.

The claim is fully funded by Bench Walk Advisors, a top-tier litigation funding firm. This means that if you are an app developer who sold digital content through the Play Store at any point between August 2018 and July 2026, you stand to benefit, but won’t have to cover any costs.

Who’s the class representative?

Professor Barry Rodger is the class representative. He is a prominent competition law academic and has been a Professor at Strathclyde University Law School since 2001. He set up the competition law research centre, SCALES, at Strathclyde University, is Chair and Treasurer of the Competition Law Scholars’ Forum and co-editor of the online Competition Law Review.

Who is in the class?

This is an opt-out claim on behalf of UK based app developers, to obtain damages for alleged losses caused by Google.

If you are an app developer who made apps available on the Google Play Store between August 2018 and July 2026, are UK-domiciled, and paid Google’s commission on sales of apps or in-app content, you are likely to be included in the class and entitled to a portion of the settlement sum.

For further information on whether you are in the class and entitled to part of the settlement, see: The Class.

Why was a class action needed?

A class action was needed in the present case because UK app developers would not have had the means to bring individual claims against Google.