Alphabet’s Google has been sued by an early adopter of its cloud productivity software Workplace, who claims the company has reneged on its promise to give them free access to the program for life.
Google Workplace, formerly known as Google Apps and G Suite, offers a range of services including Gmail, Calendar, Drive for storage, and Google Docs for content creation. Some programs are free for all, but business features like custom email addresses and shared Drive storage cost extra.
Stratford Company LLC sued on behalf of all the early adopters who were lured into using the software in its early stages, allowing Google to refine it and then sell it for a fee. In exchange, the Stratford Company said early adopters were promised a free version of Workspace, as long as Google made it available.
In 2012, Google started charging new customers $12 (about Rs 950) a month to use the software. Then, in 2022, Google informed former users that they would also be charged, although Google subsequently excluded non-business users of the software.
“Google’s abandonment of its ‘don’t be evil’ principle is well illustrated in this case,” the Stratford Company said in the complaint, filed Friday in San Jose federal court. as the better part of a nearly two trillion dollar corporation, broke its promise to loyal customers who helped Google develop a profitable product that generated profits that already exceeded his superiority”.
The Stratford Company is seeking class action status for all first acceptors and damages will be determined at trial, but over $5 million (approximately Rs. 40).
Google did not immediately respond to an email request for comment, which was sent after regular business hours.
The case is The Stratford Company LLC v. Google LLC, 5:22-cv-4547, US District Court, North District of California (San Jose).
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