BS READS: Under lens, Google treads fine line with new Play Store policy

Google has stirred up a storm over several past weeks.

First, it was the spat with Paytm. Google removed Paytm from Play Store for a few hours on September 18 because the latter was promoting its fantasy sports offering Paytm First Games. Google does not host, or allow other apps to promote, fantasy sports on the app store.

Then on September 28, it came out with a policy change. Google said, starting next year, it will charge 30 per cent commission on in-app purchases for all kinds of app businesses. Google already charges in-app purchase commission on certain a category of apps; the latest directive basically makes it apply across the board. Google said only three per cent of app developers will be affected.