You received this Notice because Google’s records show you may have paid for an app through the Google Play Store or paid for in-app content (including purchases in gaming apps, subscriptions, and ad-free versions of apps) through Google Play Billing between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023 (a “Qualifying Purchase”), when, at the time of purchase, the “Legal Address” listed in your Google payments profile was located in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands.

A Qualifying Purchase includes, for example, paying to download a game or making a purchase in an app downloaded from the Google Play Store.

United States District Court Judge James Donato of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California is overseeing the Action. The Action is titled State of Utah, et al. v. Google LLC, et al., Case No. 3:21-cv-05227-JD.

The Court authorized this Notice because you have a right to know about the proposed Settlement of the Action, and about all of your options, before the Court decides whether to give approval to the Settlement. This Notice explains the Action, the Settlement, and your legal rights.

This Action is brought by State Attorneys General as “parens patriae”* for consumers in 53 states, districts, and territories against Google.

The State Attorneys General claim that consumers paid too much for apps and for purchases made in apps downloaded from the Google Play Store because Google monopolized app distribution on certain Android devices and in-app billing services. The State Attorneys General also claim that by monopolizing app distribution, Google reduced consumers’ choices in apps. The State Attorneys General also claim that Google made misrepresentations to the public about the risks of getting apps from sources other than the Google Play Store and Google’s billing policies for apps. The State Attorneys General claim that this conduct violated federal and state antitrust and consumer protection laws.

*“Parens patriae” is a legal term for a case where State Attorneys General bring claims on behalf of people living in their states at the time they were impacted by the allegedly unlawful conduct.

This is not a class action. However, the law permitting “Parens patriae” actions authorizes the Court to give notice to the people on whose behalf this action is being brought, and to allow any persons to exclude themselves from the action who wish to do so.

Google denies any wrongdoing and denies the allegations in the Complaint.

A copy of the Complaint and Google’s answer to the Complaint, as well as the full Settlement Agreement and Release, are also available for review at the Court Documents section of this website.

The State Attorneys General ask the Court to award money damages equal to the amounts consumers overpaid for apps and in-app digital content, and also representing the dollar value of the loss in app variety, as a result of Google’s monopolization of Android app distribution and in-app billing services. Other relief those consumers may be entitled to, including attorneys’ fees, reimbursement of litigation expenses, and other remedies is sought through the Action.

The State Attorneys General also seek civil penalties and injunctive relief. These claims are separate from the money damages claims on behalf of consumers.

You are eligible to receive a payment from the Settlement Fund if you made a Qualifying Purchase and, at the time of purchase, the “Legal Address” listed in your Google payments profile was located in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands.

If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can get help by calling 1-888-808-6317 or emailing [email protected]. 

Google settled the parens patriae claims for a total of $700 million. After payment of any court-authorized expenses and attorneys’ fees, the balance of the settlement fund will be distributed to consumers who made qualifying purchases. Private lawyers who materially contributed to the litigation have applied to the court for an award of $85 million in attorneys’ fees and $8.6 million in expenses from the Settlement Fund. Their application is available on the court’s docket and on the Notice Administrator’s website.

Google has also agreed to pay $70 million to the State Attorneys General in their sovereign capacities. This resolves claims brought by the states only, and not on behalf of consumers. That money will be distributed to the states, districts, and territories themselves, to be used according to their own laws.

You will receive at least $2.00. You may receive more, based on how much you paid for apps through the Google Play Store or for in-app content (including purchases in gaming apps, subscriptions, and ad-free versions of apps) through Google Play Billing between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023, compared to the amount paid by all other consumers who made Qualifying Purchases.

If you made a Qualifying Purchase and, at the time of purchase, the “Legal Address” listed in your Google payments profile was located in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands, then you are entitled to receive a payment from the Settlement Fund.

The Settlement Fund will make the majority of payments automatically, and no claim form is necessary in most cases . Once the Settlement has been approved by the Court, you will receive an email from PayPal or a text from Venmo notifying you of your incoming payment at the email address or mobile phone number associated with your Google Play account. If that email address or phone number is also associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then the payment will be made directly to that account. If that email address or phone number does not match an email address or phone number associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then you have the option to create a new account or redirect the payment to a PayPal or Venmo account at another email address or phone number.

There will be a supplemental claims process after the automatic payments process is complete. Completing the supplemental claims process is only required if:

a) Your email address or mobile phone number associated with your Google Play account is not associated with an existing PayPal or Venmo account, and you do not want to create a new PayPal or Venmo account or redirect the payment to a PayPal or Venmo account at another email address or phone number,

b) You no longer have access to the email address or mobile phone number associated with your Google Play account, or

c) You were expecting to receive a payment but did not.

By receiving a payment, you will be releasing Google from all the claims identified in Section 11 of the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement is available in the Court Documents section of this website. The Settlement Agreement describes the released claims with specific descriptions, in accurate legal terminology, so please read it carefully.

If you want to hire a lawyer and bring your own case against Google, then you should exclude yourself from the Action—which is sometimes called “opting out”. You will not get any money from the Settlement Fund. You also will not be bound by the Court’s judgments and orders in this Action. You therefore may be able to sue or continue to sue Google on your own for the claims that are the subject of this lawsuit.

If you bring your own lawsuit against Google after you exclude yourself, you will have to hire and pay your own lawyer for that lawsuit, and you will have to prove your claims. If you do exclude yourself so you can start or continue your own lawsuit against Google, you should talk to your own lawyer soon.

If you want to receive money from the Settlement Fund, do not exclude yourself.

To exclude yourself from the Action, you must complete an opt-out form online at the Request Exclusion link on this website or send a letter saying that you want to be excluded. You may only exclude yourself: you cannot submit an exclusion request for or on behalf of any other person or group of persons.

You may obtain and submit an exclusion request form here.

If you want to exclude yourself through the website you must do so by February 19, 2026. If you want to exclude yourself by sending a letter, the letter must include the following information:

(1) the name of the lawsuit (State of Utah, et al. v. Google LLC, et al., Case No. 21-cv-05227-JD);

(2) your full name, email address, and mailing address;

(3) a clear statement of your intention to exclude yourself (such as “I wish to be excluded from the Action”); and

(4) your signature.

Your letter must be postmarked by February 19, 2026, and sent to:

Google Play State AG Antitrust Litigation

EXCLUSIONS

P.O. Box 301177
Los Angeles, CA 90030-1177

You cannot exclude yourself by telephone or by email.

Yes. If you are a resident of one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands and you have not requested to exclude yourself from the Settlement, then you may object to any aspect of the Settlement.

To object to the Settlement, you—or your lawyer—must file a written objection. This must be done on or before February 19, 2026. Your written objection must include the following information:

(1) the name of the lawsuit (State of Utah, et al. v. Google LLC, et al., Case No. 21-cv-05227-JD);

(2) your full name, email address, and mailing address;

(3) an explanation of your objection;

(4) documentation demonstrating that you are a resident of one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands and/or this statement, followed by your signature: “I declare that [insert your name] is a resident of a State, Commonwealth, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands.”; and

(5) documentation demonstrating that you have made a Qualifying Purchase.

Your objection must be received by February 19, 2026, and mailed to the three addresses below. 

If you hire a lawyer to make an objection, your lawyer must also file a notice of appearance with the Clerk of the Court not later than April 1, 2026.

An objection means you tell the Court that you think the settlement is a bad idea, but you agree to stay in the Action and be bound by the outcome of the Action, including the terms and conditions of the Settlement if the Settlement is approved over your objection.

If you exclude yourself from the Settlement, you are no longer part of the Settlement or the Action. You will not receive a payment. You will not have any right to object to the Settlement. You will not be subject to the terms and conditions of the Settlement. But, you keep your right to sue Google for the same claims by bringing your own lawsuit, if you want.

You do not need to hire your own lawyer, but if you hire a lawyer to speak for you or to appear in Court, your lawyer must file a notice of appearance with the Clerk of the Court no later than April 1, 2026. If you hire your own lawyer, you will have to pay for that lawyer at your own expense.

The Court has scheduled an approval hearing on April 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Courthouse, Courtroom 11, 19th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. However, the Court may reschedule the hearing without further written notice, so you should check this website or call 1-888-808-6317 if you want to find out if the hearing has been rescheduled.

No. Counsel for the State Attorneys General will be prepared to answer questions on your behalf. Individuals who filed and served written objections may—but do not have to—appear at the approval hearing, in person or through an attorney hired at their own expense.

Yes. Anyone can attend.

If you just want to attend and observe, you do not have to do anything.

If you want to attend and object, in person or through an attorney hired at your own expense, you need to mail a written Notice of Intent to Appear to the three addresses listed in Question 11 so that it is received by April 1, 2026. The Notice of Intent to Appear must contain the following information:

(1) Your name, address, and telephone number and, if applicable, the name, address, and telephone number of your attorney (who must file a notice of appearance with the Clerk of the Court not later than April 1, 2026);

(2) Your objection, including any supporting papers; and

(3) The name and address of any witnesses to be presented at the approval hearing, together with a statement as to the matters on which they wish to testify and a summary of the proposed testimony.

THIS NOTICE IS ONLY A SUMMARY. The Complaint and certain other pleadings and relevant documents are available on this website, at the Court Documents link above.

If you have questions or want more information, you may call 1-888-808-6317 or you may contact the Settlement Administrator by email at [email protected], or by writing to:

Google Play State AG Antitrust Litigation
In re: Google Play State AG Antitrust Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 301177
Los Angeles, CA 90030-1177

PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR WRITE TO THE COURT OR THE CLERK’S OFFICE FOR INFORMATION. THE COURT CANNOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.