Stichting App Stores Claims accuses Google of abusing its dominance in Android app distribution and charging excessive Play Store commissions to users in the Netherlands. The District Court of Amsterdam declared the foundation admissible in March 2025, and Google filed its defense on April 15, 2026. On June 3, 2026, the court set a confidentiality regime for Google’s documents ahead of a hearing on the merits.
Latest development Jun 3, 2026
On June 3, 2026, the District Court of Amsterdam set a provisional confidentiality regime for the blacked-out parts of Google’s defense and its supporting reports. Google may place the material in two data rooms. The court cut the proposed penalty for each breach to €100,000 and excluded anyone linked to ASC’s litigation funder.
Why it matters
The case will decide whether Google must compensate Dutch Android users, nearly six million by ASC’s count, for Play Store commissions. It also shows how Dutch courts handle confidential platform data and third-party litigation funding in collective actions.
Background
Stichting App Stores Claims (ASC), launched by media entrepreneur Alexander Klöpping, sued Alphabet, Google LLC, and six other Google companies on October 17, 2022. It brought a collective action in the District Court of Amsterdam under the Dutch Act on Collective Damages Claims (WAMCA). It acts for users in the Netherlands who bought apps or made in-app purchases through the Dutch Google Play Store. ASC alleges that since January 1, 2013, Google has abused a dominant position by forcing developers to distribute through Google Play and to use its billing system. It says users paid excessive commissions of up to 30% as a result. In a letter before the suit, Google said it fully complied with Dutch and EU competition law.
On December 27, 2023, the court held that it has jurisdiction and that the WAMCA governs the claims. It treated the alleged conduct since 2013 as a single continuing infringement. On March 19, 2025, after reviewing ASC’s representativeness and its funding agreement, the court declared ASC admissible and appointed it exclusive representative. The opt-out period ran from July 1 to October 1, 2025, and the parties had until November 1, 2025, to try to settle.
Google filed its statement of defense on April 15, 2026, with the parts it considers confidential blacked out. On June 3, 2026, the court set a provisional confidentiality regime under which Google may place reports, witness statements, and commercial agreements in two data rooms. It reduced the penalty Google had proposed for each breach from €1M to €100,000 and barred anyone linked to ASC’s litigation funder from access. An oral hearing on the merits is to follow.
Timeline 7 events
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OrderAmsterdam court sets confidentiality regime for Google’s documents
Google may place the material in two data rooms. The court cut the penalty for each breach from €1M to €100,000 and excluded anyone linked to ASC’s funder.
District Court of Amsterdam: case management decision of June 3, 2026
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FilingGoogle files its statement of defense
Google blacked out the parts of its defense and exhibits that it considers confidential.
District Court of Amsterdam: case management decision of June 3, 2026
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OrderAmsterdam court sets the opt-out period and a settlement window
Users could opt out from July 1 to October 1, 2025. The parties had until November 1, 2025, to attempt a settlement before the merits phase.
District Court of Amsterdam: interim judgment of June 11, 2025Rechtspraak: Massaclaimzaak Stichting app stores claims tegen Google over Play Store
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JudgmentAmsterdam court declares ASC admissible as exclusive representative
The court rejected Google’s objections and defined the class as private and business users in the Netherlands who bought apps or in-app items through the Dutch Play Store.
District Court of Amsterdam: interim judgment of March 19, 2025Hausfeld: Stichting app stores claims admissible
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OrderAmsterdam court asks ASC to firm up representativeness and funding terms
The court required a new accountant’s statement on the foundation’s support and changes to its funding agreement before ruling on admissibility.
District Court of Amsterdam: interim judgment of September 25, 2024
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JudgmentAmsterdam court accepts jurisdiction and applies the new collective damages regime
The court treated the alleged abuse since 2013 as a single continuing infringement, so the WAMCA governs the whole period. It asked for more information on representativeness and funding.
District Court of Amsterdam: interim judgment of December 27, 2023
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FilingApp Stores Claims files collective action against Google
The foundation sued Alphabet, Google LLC, and six other Google companies in the District Court of Amsterdam on behalf of Dutch users of the Google Play Store.
District Court of Amsterdam: interim judgment of December 27, 2023