In-app purchase controversy: CCI to hear charges against Google this week

The Competition Commission of India’s (CCI’s) probe into Google’ payment policy may soon be over because the antitrust regulator is set to begin a confidential hearing this week on charges against its contentious policy for Play Store developers.

The three-member CCI panel, headed by Chairman Ashok Kumar Gupta, is likely to hear the matter daily later this week and is expected to pass the final order by September.

The move is relevant because it will provide greater legal certainty to Google’s proposed payment policy, which will come into effect on October 31.

App developers have been mandated to integrate their payment systems with