Indian Startup Association to reach US group resisting Google, Apple

The Indian Startup Association, which was established to oppose Google Play Store’s decision to charge 30% commission on in-app purchases of digital goods, is planning to ping a US-based organization namely the Coalition For App Fairness which was founded by 13 app publishers to resist Google and Apple’s duopoly in the US, to learn how to shape itself, define its goals and strategy.

One of the technology startup founders who is a member of the 15-member Paytm-led group said that although the US group is mostly inclined to take on Apple and their association has more arguments with Google, the founder members have approached to the US body to understand their campaign against the top technology companies.

“We were focused to raise our voice and make them listen and now we have to find a solution. We are looking at the Coalition to learn how to structure it. There are members in the group reaching out to them. However, that’s more focused on Apple, and we are focusing on Google,” a tech founder, who didn’t want to reveal the name, said.

The talks are on, however, it’s too early and and nothing has been finalized yet, he added. The Coalition For App Fairness involves online firms such as Epic Games, Spotify, Tinder-parent Match Group, and Basecamp. It was found last month to solve many disputes around payment, policies, and control of Apple App Store and Google Play Store on the internet ecosystem.

The Indian association, however, is still in an informal shape and may soon become a more formal system. Currently, the founders are exchanging views and ideas on an old WhatsApp group named ‘India Startup Connect’.

“Honestly, we are a group that informally has discussed the issues of the industry. We are contemplating a formal organization,” said Ritesh Malik, founder of Innov8 Coworking. “Almost all the relevant players have come together. But we have no concrete plans to share.”