Google has finally taken a step back … forced in-app payment postponed to next September

“Accepting the views of Korean developers and experts”

To be postponed by 8 months from next January

Fee policy withdrawn, not held

“It’s just a time lag,” he stressed

Google has decided to postpone the time to expand the in-app payments application from its “Google Play” app market to all applications and content in Korea for about eight months from January to September next year.

Google, which has come under pressure to cut tariffs, has also changed its policy as Apple announced it would lower fees from 30% to 15% for small content developers affected by the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19). Content producers who opposed forced in-app payment and commission policies were caught off guard. However, the dominant analysis is that the forced payment and commission policy has not been withdrawn, but has been temporarily suspended, so time has only been delayed for a while.

According to Google on the 23rd, Google delayed the application of new app developers, who had applied mandatory in-app payment from January next year to September 30th next year, only in the Korean market.

Initially, Google had a mandatory Google Play in-app payment enforcement policy for new apps registered from January 20 next year and September 30 next year. It is decided to apply it at the end of September next year, regardless of whether it is new or existing.

On this day, Google said: “For the few new content apps affected by the recently announced Google Play payment policy, the grace period will be extended until the end of September next year.” The aim is to provide enough time to apply the payment to the system and use the K-reate promotion which will be implemented from next year. “In addition, he added,” We have collected opinions from Korean developers and experts through the ‘App Ecosystem Win- Win Forum ‘”.

However, in the industry, it is rated as “blindfolded and Aung”. A content industry official said, “Indeed, it’s not a new company that has yet released an app, but an existing business that suffers the most damage from the Google In-App Payment application. I said. A Another official said, “In the end, there is no change in policy, only the deadline has been extended,” and said, “The Google bill that is being promoted by the National Assembly needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Google’s policy change is due to the fact that Apple’s recent rate cut measures have been unfavorable to public opinion. The industry’s view is that it’s the result of the ruling that it’s impossible for Google to force Google’s in-app payment starting January next year. In fact, Google delayed the application of in-app payment for another six months until April 2022 as the backlash from app providers in India grew and the movement to create a native app market with over 150 app providers. supportive has increased. An Internet Business Association official said: “Google says that in the case of domestic developers, in-app payments are fully enforced and fewer than 100 companies are affected, but in terms of sales, that’s not a small number.” It would have been difficult to ignore public opinion as it was published. ”
/ Reporter Jeong Hye-jin [email protected]